SKS Airways

{{Infobox airline

| airline = SKS Airways

| logo = SKS Airways logo.svg

| caption =

| logo_size =

| fleet_size = 2

| destinations = 3

| IATA = KI

| ICAO = SJB

| callsign = SOUTHERN TIGER

| parent = SKS Group

| founded = {{start date and age|2017|11|13|df=yes}}{{Cite web|title=SKS Airways Airline Profile | CAPA|url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/sks-airways-ki|access-date=2022-02-27|website=centreforaviation.com}}

| commenced = {{start date and age|2022|01|25|df=yes}}{{Cite web|title=New Malaysian carrier SKS Airways takes to the skies|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory/malaysian-carrier-sks-airways-takes-skies-82456240|access-date=2022-02-27|website=ABC News|language=en}}

| headquarters =

| key_people = Dato' Rohman Ahmad (Director){{Cite web|title=Dr Wee launches SKS Airways – new kid on the aviation block offering flights to island getaways|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/01/25/dr-wee-launches-sks-airways---new-kid-on-the-aviation-block-offering-flights-to-island-getaways|access-date=2022-02-27|website=The Star|language=en}}

| hubs = Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport

| frequent_flyer =

| alliance =

| website = {{URL|www.sksairways.com}}

| ceased = {{end date and age|2025|01|16}}{{Cite web|title=SKS Airways ceases operations after two years|url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/741251|access-date=2025-01-16|website=TheEDGE Malaysia|language=en}}

| aoc =

| focus_cities =

| num_employees =

}}

SKS Airways was a regional airline based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Founded in November 2017, the airline received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in October 2021 and began its first commercial operations on 25 January 2022, with a flight from Subang to Pangkor. Its flights have been suspended since November 2023.{{Cite web |title=Malaysia's SKS Airways suspends services, seeks funding |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/134315-malaysias-sks-airways-suspends-services-seeks-funding |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=ch-aviation |language=en}} The company announced ceased operation on January 16, 2025, after 2 years in operation after would not able to sustain the market{{Cite web |date=2025-01-16 |title=SKS Airways ceases operations after two years |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/741251 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=The Edge Malaysia}}.

History

=Early operations and fleet development=

Founded in November 2017,{{Cite web|title=SKS Airways Airline Profile | CAPA|url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/sks-airways-ki|access-date=2022-02-27|website=centreforaviation.com}} SKS Airways received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in October 2021{{Cite web|title=SKS Airways|url=http://www.sksairways.com/usr/page.aspx?pgid=2|access-date=2022-02-27|website=SKS Airways}} and commenced its first commercial flight from Subang to Pangkor on 25 January 2022.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-25|title=New Malaysian carrier SKS Airways takes to the skies|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/malaysian-covid-kuala-lumpur-china-southeast-asia-b1999966.html|access-date=2022-02-27|website=The Independent|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Dr Wee launches SKS Airways – new kid on the aviation block offering flights to island getaways|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/01/25/dr-wee-launches-sks-airways---new-kid-on-the-aviation-block-offering-flights-to-island-getaways|access-date=2022-02-27|website=The Star|language=en}} The airline added its first DHC 6-300 Twin Otter to its fleet on 15 July 2019, followed by a second Twin Otter on 23 December 2020.

In 2021, reports indicated that SKS Airways was planning to order ATR 72-500 aircraft, as job postings for ATR72-500 pilots and cabin crew appeared online, and the aircraft was featured in a Malaysia Independence Day advertisement.{{Cite web |title=SKS Airways |url=https://www.facebook.com/sksairways/posts/pfbid0j3Gmv9SuLpKrwo3GXrYt9PxdFKxfEvYLJp3Jm8c5kW2xhM7De2uPSiqvyZMDuXBJl |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-08-24 |title=SKS Airways: New Malaysian airline wants to grow before take-off |url=https://aviation.direct/en/sks-airways-new-malaysian-airline-wants-to-grow-before-take-off |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Aviation.Direct |language=en}} However, these plans did not come to fruition, and there have been no further mentions of the ATR aircraft since.

=Lease agreement and operational challenges=

On 25 May 2023, SKS Airways signed a lease agreement for ten Embraer E195-E2 aircraft with Azorra Aviation during the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA). The airline also entered into a long-term services agreement with Embraer for spare parts, parts repair, maintenance and fleet monitoring. These aircraft were intended to support the airline's regional expansion based at Kuala Lumpur's Subang Airport.

However, on 20 November 2023, SKS Airways suspended all flights. While the online booking portal remained active, no flights were available for booking. The New Straits Times reported that the airline was under significant financial strain due to unprofitable operations and limited funding sources. Despite SKS Airways denying financial difficulties, they did not provide reasons for halting operations.

On 10 July 2024, SKS Airways announced it had canceled its plans to lease the Embraer E195-E2 jets from Azorra Aviation. This decision came after failing to secure a sufficient number of slots at Kuala Lumpur Subang Airport to support jet operations. The original agreement with Azorra and Embraer in May 2023 aimed to introduce the E195-E2s by early 2024 to drive new growth opportunities.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23|title=Malaysia's SKS Airways cancels E195-E2 lease plans - report|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/142317-malaysias-sks-airways-cancels-e195-e2-lease-plans-reportf |access-date=2024-07-23|website=ch-aviation.com |language=en}}

Destinations

Prior to November 2023, SKS Airways served the following scheduled passenger destinations:{{Cite web|title=New commercial airline SKS Airways offers direct flights to Pulau Pangkor, Redang and Tioman|url=https://www.optionstheedge.com/topic/travel/new-commercial-airline-sks-airways-offers-direct-flights-pulau-pangkor-redang-and|access-date=2022-02-27|website=www.optionstheedge.com|language=en}}

class="wikitable sortable" !Country !State !City !Airport !Notes !Reference
rowspan="4" \|Malaysia	Pahang	Tioman Island	Tioman Airport \| \|
Selangor	Kuala Lumpur	Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport \| \|
Terengganu	Redang Island	Redang Airport \| \|
Perak	Pangkor Island	Pangkor Airport \|{{terminated}} \|{{cite web\|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/06/23/suspension-of-subang-pangkor-flights-due-to-tourists-preference-for-road-travel-says-exco/13864\|title=SKS Airways suspends Kuala Lumpur Subang-Pangkor flights}}

Fleet

As of May 2023, the SKS Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{Cite web|last=Flightradar24|title=Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map|url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airlines/ki-sjb/fleet|access-date=2022-02-27|website=Flightradar24|language=en}}

class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:auto;" \|+SKS Airways Fleet
Aircraft !In Service !Orders !Passengers !Notes
De Havilland DHC 6-300 Twin Otter \| {{center\|2}} \| - \|19 \| Registered 9M-KIA and 9M-KIB{{citation needed\|date=June 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:auto;"

|+SKS Airways Fleet

Aircraft

!In Service

!Orders

!Passengers

!Notes

De Havilland DHC 6-300 Twin Otter

| {{center|2}}

| -

|19

| Registered 9M-KIA and 9M-KIB{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}