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The story
1987-1990: Early operations
Following the cessation of operations by Malaysia Air Charter (MACAir), Malaysia Airlines determined that the airline's feeder routes were unsuitable for larger aircraft. Then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad subsequently proposed the establishment of a new domestic airline to operate those routes while complementing, rather than replacing, Malaysia Airlines. As a result, Pelangi Air was incorporated and took over the former MACAir routes. The airline launched its Inaugural flight 9M-910, at approximately 10:50 a.m. on New Year's Day, 1988, as the aircraft arrived to Sultan Mahmud Airport, Terengganu.
As of January 1989, the airline has expanded 11 routes across Malay Peninsular.
Pelangi Air was known for participating in the 1990 Malaysia International Air Race (also known as the Paris–Langkawi–Paris Air Race) with a Dornier 228 aircraft under the name Pelangi team. At the time of the event, the airline's General manager served as the aircraft's pilot. The pilot won the first leg of the race, helping the team win the overall trophy.
1991-1997: Expansion and Acquisitions
Pelangi Air purchased two Fokker 50 aircraft, enabling the airline to launch operations across Sumatra, as well as charter flights throughout Southeast Asia.
The airline was also interviewed by Channel 7HD following its inaugural flight from Ipoh to Hat Yai, marking its first media coverage outside Malaysia and Singapore. Pelangi Air was renamed to Pelangi Airways in 1994.
In November 1996, Malaysia Airlines proposed to acquire Pelangi Airways as part of efforts to reorganise its operations, as of 1998, no process of the acquisition was made and Pelangi Airways continued operation.
1998-2002: Financial difficulties and closure
Pelangi Airways continued operation in November 2000, most employees began a silent strike against the airline following the non-payment of their wages. It has also stranded 60 passengers.
Pelangi Airways was forced to shutdown all of its operation in October 2001. Following the shutdown, Berjaya Air took over its route to Seletar Airport and their aircraft were abandoned at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport and Senai International Airport.
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Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia Airports, and two other companies successfully petitioned the High court to place Pelangi Airways into liquidation, bringing an end to its 13 years of operations.
2001-2002: Successors attempt
Aero Malaysiana was a planned regional airlines based in Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport founded in 2001 by Malaysian businessman Syed Yusof.
In 2002 during Asian Aerospace Air Show in Singapore, the Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR announced that the airline has signed to acquired both ATR-72-200.
However, the planned was abandoned and never did begin operation.
From Wikipedia’s article on Pelangi Air, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3