Business is in the air and a business opportunity knows no religious boundary.
An ethnic Indian Hindu couple have launched Malaysia’s first Islamic airline offering Shariah compliant services.
It is the country’s first Islamic airline, offering flights that adhere to Islamic rules, including prayers before take-off, no on-flight serving of alcohol or meals with pork and a strict dress code for female flight attendants.
Interestingly, the people who started Rayani Air are Hindus – Ravi Alagendrran and his wife Karthiyani Govindan, who used parts of their first names for the airline’s name.
They assured that passengers of all faiths would be welcome on the flights, although they are mainly eyeing the Muslim market.
“This is not a matter of segregation. We have a target market and anyone wishing to travel in a modest and alcohol-free environment will feel right at home,” Ravi told Malay Mail. The Shariah-compliant industry has a huge potential for growth, he added.
Department of Civil Aviation senior assistant director Jaafar Zamhari said: “Muslim crew members will be obliged to cover their heads and non-Muslim members of the crew are required to dress decently in accordance with Shariah requirements.
“The airline will not allow any pork or alcoholic beverages on board and Islamic prayers will be conducted before every flight for the safety of the passengers,” he said.
The airline would fly five times a week between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.
The airliner operated its maiden flight on Sunday (September 18).
The idea for Rayani Air grew out of complaints by Muslims who believed that two major air disasters for the national Malaysia Airlines - Flight 370 that went missing in March 2014 and Flight 17 downed a few months later over Ukraine - were caused by Allah’s wrath. According to them, it was a message from God for breaking Islamic rules on flights.
