KUALA LUMPUR — The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has provisionally suspended Shariah-compliant airline Rayani Air for three months beginning on Monday (April 11).

DCA director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman also said that an inquiry into the airline will be conducted on May 12.

“DCA hereby provisionally suspends Rayani Air, Air Operator Certificate No 54 issued under Regulation 24 of the Civil Aviation Regulation 1996 for a period of three months from the date of notice,” he announced during a press conference at Putrajaya on Monday.

Mr Azharuddin added that the airline’s suspension was the first of its kind in Malaysian aviation history.

He also said the DCA has given prior warnings to Rayani Air, which were not observed, resulting in the suspension on Monday.

“We always have (sic) been stringent. We have given them ample time. We’ve had (a) series of meetings & discussions with them already,” he explained.

But he expressed confidence that the suspension will not damage the credibility of Malaysian aviation, but will instead highlight the DCA’s vigilance.

“We just cannot let flights that we feel that has contravened our regulations is allowed to fly (sic),” he said.

Rayani Air “suspended” its operations after it was crippled by a pilot strike since Friday.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai reprimanded the airline for the move, saying it had no authority to suspend itself.

He also said on Sunday that the DCA will provisionally suspend Rayani for failing the conditions of its Air Operators’ Certificate.

Mr Liow added that the DCA will undertake a full administration and safety audit to determine if Rayani is “fit” to continue operations after serving provisional suspension.

The troubled airline, which launched its maiden flight just about three months ago last December 20, has been hit by multiple complaints over its service and embroiled in repeated controversies.

Rayani Air was also investigated by the Transport Ministry after it issued handwritten boarding passes to passengers on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching last month. MALAY MAIL ONLINE