Malaysia’s new shariah airline grounded

Rayani Air now has three months to resolve its operational problems

Written by:Mark Elliott

Rayani Air, the start-up Malaysian airline that conforms to Islamic shariah standards, has been grounded by aviation authorities.

Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reports that the country’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has suspended Rayani Air’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for a period of three months, effective 11 April 2016. The move is reportedly due to Rayani Air’s failure to meet safety and service standards.Rayani Air

The airline has been plagued by flight delays and cancellations, and it was recently revealed that passengers were being issued with hand-written boarding passes. Channel NewsAsia also reports that the airline has been unable to pay salaries.

The airline had several warnings prior to the suspension, the DCA said, and Rayani Air now has three months to address its concerns.

“The suspension will be lifted if they fulfil all of our requirements or we can permanently suspend, or take a longer time. Three months is provisional. We have discussed with the airline and they know about it. It’s up to them to improve,” Bernama reported the DCA’s director-general, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, as saying.

He added that this is the first time Malaysia has suspended an airline’s AOC under the current regulations, which came into force in 1996.

Rayani Air grounded all its flights on Friday until further notice, citing a pilot strike. It previously operated to five Malaysian destinations: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

And other airlines have now stepped in to help passengers; Malaysia Airlines said Rayani Air ticket-holders would be able to rebook on its flights, and AirAsia is offering 50% discounts to all five Rayani Air destinations from now until 27 April 2016.

Rayani Air made headlines when it launched in January 2016, due to its status as a shariah-compliant airline. This meant that prayers were recited before take-off, in-flight food was halal, no alcohol was served, and all flight attendants wore head-scarves. This is not so unusual however; Royal Brunei Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines are also shariah-compliant.