Livery of new ultra low-cost carrier spotted at KLIA

Hello there: The plane spotted at KLIA. — Photo courtesy of ­@theplanes­pa­panazzi/Instagram

PETALING JAYA: The livery of a new ultra low-cost carrier, MYAirline, spotted on a plane at KL International Airport, caught the attention of flyers.

A photo of the aircraft, which was posted by Instagram user @theplanespapanazzi, shows the airline’s logo and name on a striking red body.

“MYAirline, new ultra low-cost carrier. Hopefully, it gets to fly passengers soon,” the caption read.

Kuala Lumpur-based MYAirline Sdn Bhd was one of two new airlines approved by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) last year.

The other airline was Johor-based SKS Airways, which started its flights to Tioman Island on May 1.

According to Mavcom’s website, MYAirline has been given a conditional approval for air service licence (ASL) on Dec 22 last year, and it is valid until Dec 31 this year.

That licence allows the company to conduct scheduled passenger and cargo services.

However, not much is known yet about the carrier and its expected launch date.

The airline has reportedly been hiring flight operation staff. Its official website currently has many active job postings.

MYAirline chief operating officer and executive director Stuart Cross has not responded to a request for comment at press time.

Industry response to the newcomer, however, has been mixed.

Malaysia Airlines Bhd group chief executive officer has questioned the need for more capacity in the local aviation sector.

“My fear for the new airline is that it may derail the sustainability of existing airlines with unnecessarily more capacity, which will benefit consumers, but is it sustainable to the country?” he said when met by reporters during an event earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said he was unfazed by the entry of the two new Malaysian airlines.