MYAirline (MYM, Kuala Lumpur Subang) has commenced revenue operations, with the first flights successfully taking off to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and Langkawi on December 1. CEO Rayner Teo says interest in the new airline has been strong and load factors on the first day exceeded 80%.
Teo also told media assembled for the first flights that MYAirline was looking to commence international operations by March 2023, with Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam among the shortlisted countries.
"If all goes well, we hope to target the first international flight at the end of the first quarter of next year," he said. "It's a bit complicated in terms of getting approval because we have to have discussions with more than one country."
MYAirline is operating out of KLIA2 terminal, home to AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International), and Teo says the next local destinations will be Penang, Sibu, and Kota Bharu, with flights to those destinations awaiting approval from Malaysia's Civil Aviation Commission (MAVCOM). The airline presently has a fleet of three A320-200s but previously told ch-aviation that it was eyeing 50 aircraft within five years of starting flights. As of December 1, MYAirline has around 500 people on its payroll, including approximately 60 pilots.
“Since our route announcements, we see encouraging response from travellers," Teo said. "With air travel gaining momentum this year, we look forward to increasing tourism numbers into the country via new routes and additional flight frequencies."
