The latest addition to Malaysia’s commercial aviation scene is one step closer to take-off.

Malaysia sure likes pursuing transport-related businesses. Even though it’s a fairly small country, Malaysia has two “national” car companies, and it seemed for a while there might be a third. And when Malaysians aren’t dreaming up automobile companies or launching e-scooter or ride-hailing services, they’re taking to the skies.

There have been quite a number of airlines kick-started in Malaysia over the years, some obviously more successful than others. One of the more recent entries, SKS Airways, tried to start operations at the beginning of 2022 in the waning months of a global pandemic, offering domestic flights primarily to a handful of island destinations.

Now, a new low-cost airline, MYAirline, is expected to begin flight operations soon, following the issuance of its air operators’ certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia last week.

The AOC is valid from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, and is an important step for any fledgling airline towards starting flight operations.

The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) has also issued a conditional air service licence that is presently approved through to December 31, 2022, but the regulator has yet to transition that licence from its conditional status to a current status.

Incorporated in January 2021 with paid-up capital of RM2 million, MYAirline’s shareholders include Zillion Wealth Bhd (88%), Trillion Cove Holdings Bhd (10%), and Rayner Teo Kheng Hock (2%).

MYAirline is currently in the final stage of its preparations, and the upstart airline is planning to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2022.

More recently, MYAirline has taken delivery of its first A320-200s, with 9M-DAC leased from Aviation Capital Group, and 9M-DAG and 9M-DAB arriving from lessor Aircastle.

The airline will initially begin its services with that fleet of three Airbus A320-200 aircraft to provide domestic flight services. In Malaysia, an airline is required to have a minimum of two aircraft before it can receive its AOC. The CEO (and minority shareholder) of the new airline, Rayner Teo, told Malaysia Now in an interview that leasing was to be the strategy, at least in the early days for MYAirline.

“In the beginning, we will lease planes instead of purchasing them,” Teo said. “But we will explore when the time is right to own some planes as well.”

He also noted that the effects of the pandemic in reducing demand for air travel helped MYAirline secure more favourable leasing terms for its two A320s.

The airline’s routes have, so far, not been announced. Those routes, Teo explained, will be unveiled when MYAirline is officially launched.

For more information, check out www.myairline.my.