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LONDON: A Hindu couple has launched Malaysia’s first Islamic airline – called Rayani Air – which started its operations on Sunday.
Ravi Alagendrran and his wife Karthiyani Govindan have combined their names – Ra and Yani – to create the brand name for their Islamic airline.
No alcohol and no pork will be allowed on the flights of Rayani Air. Passengers will be served only halal meals.
Crew and flight attendants will follow strict Islamic code and all flights will take after the recital of Muslim prayers.
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But for the Hindu couple owner of the airline, it is pure business. They seized upon the idea of launching a Sharia-compliant airline after the two disasters which struck Malysian Airlines – Flight 370 which went missing and has never been found and Flight 17 shot down over Ukraine. Devout Muslims believed that the two disasters were the result of God’s retribution.
The Hind couple, who are based in London, say their airline will welcome passengers of all faiths. Over 60 percent of Malaysians are Muslims.
With its current fleet of two Boeing 737-400 aircraft – each with a capacity of 188 passengers, Rayani Air will operate five flights weekly between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi covering a distance of over 410 kilometres.
The airlines, which has a total staff of 350 people, plans to add international flights to Indonesia and the Philippines later.
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