SKS Airways Sdn Bhd has appointed Datuk Rohman Ahmad (pic) as the airlines accountable manager following the resignation of its chief executive officer Dzuleira Abu Bakar on Nov 10.
This news comes in conjunction with the confirmation of Dzuleira Abu Akbar’s departure from the company as its CEO.
Dzuleira had joined SKS Airways, effective September 15, 2023. She had taken over from the Acting CEO and Executive Director at the time, who was Rohman.
SKS Airways, on Nov 10, accepted her decision and extended its deepest gratitude for “Dzuleira’s invaluable contributions during her tenure” with no reasons given.
Moving forward, the leadership of SKS Airways will be entrusted back to Dato’ Rohman Ahmad, the aforementioned Executive Director and now also Accountable Manager.
In a statement today (Nov 22), SKS Airways said Rohman will “continue to steer the airline towards its next phase of growth and beyond”.
Dzuleira took the helm of SKS Airways from Rohman, who was then acting CEO, on Sept 15 “to accelerate the full potential and growth of SKS Airways as a leading regional carrier that delivers long-term growth and value for all our shareholders”.
Prior to joining the airline, she was CEO of the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (Mranti). Her appointment followed a signing between SKS Airways and Embraer Asia-Pacific and US-based aircraft lessor Azorra Aviation Holdings to lease 10 Embraer E195-E2 jets in a deal worth more than US$840 million (RM3.9 billion) from Azorra.
SKS Airways said initial payments — including the upfront security deposit — to secure the 10 E-195-E2s have been fully paid. The airline was responding to recent news reports that SKS Airways was seeking funding from various parties to pay for commitments of the Embraer jets, the deliveries of which will begin by the second quarter of 2024, instead of January, as initially scheduled.
Payments Secure
Payments to secure the 10 aircraft had been fully paid to the company’s lessor Azzora Aviation Holdings. The subsequent payments are due when the aircraft are delivered,” SKS Airways said in the statement.
Previously, SKS Airways had reported that the Embraer aircraft were slated to be delivered in January 2024. However, in late September this year, the airline’s lessor told them the delivery would be delayed due to supply chain constraints from the aircraft manufacturer’s side.
“This is a global phenomenon that affects everybody,” SKS Airways said. “Nevertheless, the nature of delay is not significant and will not impact SKS Airways’ overall business plan.”
The statement cited that all claims and allegations made with reference to the airline’s “scrambling to secure funding to pay for the delivery of 10 leased Embraer E195-E2 aircraft” and that they “travelled all the way to the Middle East to seek funding” as published by a daily on Nov 20 are “categorically false and reek of mischiefs.”
The local airline further assured that it has been diligent in managing its financial obligations, ensuring that all payments are made on time.
“We do not have any overdue payables, and we have taken great care to ensure that all our employees are fully paid and well taken care of without any exceptions,” it stated.
That said, SKS Airways shared that it is on the lookout for strategic investors, but this is to support them in their second phase, where the plan is to acquire an additional 20 aircraft on top of the current 10 that are already committed.
The company explained that these additional aircraft will play a crucial role in SKS Airways’ aim of continued growth when the government’s Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) is completed.
SKS Airways is in the midst of finetuning the revised aircraft delivery schedule, SKS Airways is targeting the first delivery to be in Q2 2024.
