Travellers and travel agents were caught off guard today when the ultra-low-cost carrier, MyAirline, made a sudden declaration of its immediate suspension of operations due to “significant financial pressures.”
In a statement, the airline expressed the difficulty of this decision but emphasised its necessity as it undergoes a restructuring and recapitalisation process involving its shareholders.
MyAirline has called upon affected passengers to reach out to its support team for assistance.
MyAirline has been in operation for only 10 months with eight aircraft operating out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.
In a display of solidarity, AirAsia has stepped forward to support those inconvenienced by this disruption. The airline is extending a special offer, providing MyAirline passengers with confirmed flight bookings to and from destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Tawau, Kota Bharu, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu-Tawau, Don Mueng-Bangkok, and Suvarnabhumi-Bangkok with a 50 per cent discount on base fares. The offer is effective immediately and remains valid until November 30.
The sudden suspension has also left Malaysian travel agents in a state of disarray.
Adam Kamal, director, Suka Holiday, said he had two groups travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok from next week. He shared: “Our immediate priority is to get them seats on other airlines such as AirAsia and Batik Air. We will also negotiate with MyAirline for a refund for our affected clients.”
He criticised the airline for its perceived irresponsibility in failing to provide advance notice and refunds to customers prior to the suspension.
Sheikh Awadh Sheikh Abdullah, managing director of GotZ Travel and Tours, told TTG Asia that he, along with three staff, had booked a flight with MyAirline from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu for this afternoon, only to receive an email this morning notifying them of the flight’s cancellation.
They were able to quickly secure seats on AirAsia, but but at a higher fare compared to MyAirline seats.
Sheikh Awadh highlighted the fortunate position of working in a travel agency, allowing them to swiftly find alternative flights. “Others are not as lucky. This sudden suspension would have disrupted the plans of many travellers, who may also have booked travel packages and accommodation,” he emphasised.
A Swedish national, he is also fluent in Danish, Norwegian, English and Thai.
Japan is seeing the opening of more big-name and glitzy attractions, as companies seek to gain from the country’s tourism recovery.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter, which opened in June, is the second theme park based on the hit film series after the one in London, which has welcomed 17 million visitors since opening in 2012.
Covering 30,000m2, the Tokyo site is also the world’s largest Harry Potter attraction. Operated by Warner Bros. Studio Japan, it features exclusive sets from the film series, interactive experiences including using a green screen, F&B options and shops, with entry for adults priced at 6,300 yen (US$42).
Attractions based on Japanese characters are also expanding, due to their popularity at home and abroad.
Building on its 60 billion yen (US$403 million) investment to open Super Nintendo World in 2021, Universal Studios Japan, in July, launched attractions based on several animation series including One Piece, Detective Conan and Attack on Titan.
Ghibli Park, which opened in Nagoya Prefecture in 2022, has also expanded this year to add two new areas: Mononoke Village, which unveils Japan as it was in the fifteenth century, and Irontown Village, featuring giant sculptures of creatures from Studio Ghibli films.
Growth in theme park attendance is important to tourism recovery as Japan seeks increased consumption by visitors.
Theme parks and amusement parks across the country are welcoming fewer visitors than pre-pandemic, with recovery at just under 80 per cent, but those visitors are spending more. Consumption per person exceeded 10,000 yen for the first time in 2022, according to data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
There are more products in the pipeline.
Tom’s City Circuit Tokyo Bay will open at the capital’s Odaiba waterfront in November, offering indoor and outdoor electric vehicle go-karting, as well as VR-based entertainment.
The company said the attraction can “help revitalise Tokyo’s night-time economy” as electric vehicles are quiet, allowing smooth operations at night.