Scanda Sky (Ipoh) commenced its inaugural charter flight from Ipoh to Guangzhou on November 27. However, the fledgeling operation has incurred the wrath of the Malaysian government given its lack of licences.

In a warning letter to the firm on November 29, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) advised the travelling public that Scanda Sky is not an airline licenced under the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015.

The regulator said that Scanda Sky was advertising and promoting itself as providing commercial scheduled flights on its website, and therefore suggesting it is an airline. The Commission went further saying that Scanda Sky, is neither a holder of an Air Service License (ASL) nor Air Service Permit (ASP) issued either by the Commission under Act 771 or issued under the Civil Aviation Act 1969 [Act 3].

The warning letter to the firm instructs it to cease marketing its services as well as advertising itself as a commercial airline.

Speaking to the Malaysian news website The Star Online later on November 29, Scanda Sky denied it had been portraying itself as an airline following the MAVCOM warning.

The operator's Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hu said it merely chartered flights from existing licensed airline companies, including Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International), for tour packages in Ipoh and Guangzhou.

"Scanda Sky needs to strongly clarify that although it did indeed advertise and promote that scheduled flights would be provided, it is not doing so as a commercial airline company such as Malaysian Airlines would do."

"The sales of tickets currently shown on the website is a no-commitment two-week promotional gimmick offered by Scanda Sky to the public to experience what it is like to take up tour packages that included the chartered flights."

"After the first two weeks, all seats on the flights that Scanda Sky charter from the existing airlines could only be procured from affiliated tour agencies, tour groups or other entities licensed to provide tour packages. These companies will have their payment gateway or their site linked to our site."

The first service, flight MH8868, left Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh at around 2200 with 40 passengers on board. Prior to its departure, the B737-800 was given a customary water salute.

These initial services utilised a chartered Malaysia Airlines B737 on the 1,329-nautical mile (2,462-kilometre) sector, with 9M-MLQ (msn 39327) operating the first flight. The aircraft positioned (flight MH8626) in from Malaysia Airlines' base in Kuala Lumpur International just hours before operating the near four-hour sector to China. The second flight was then completed on November 30 by another Malaysia Airlines B737-800, 9M-MLN (msn 39234), with services anticipated to fly 2x weekly every Wednesday and Saturday to Guangzhou, while the return flights to Ipoh are every Thursday and Sunday.