Shariah-compliant airline launches in Southeast Asia

The low-cost airline stated that it is “a full-service airline that puts customers first,” while offering in-flight food, comfortable seats and extra legroom. “As a start, Rayani Air will serve domestic sectors and will expand rapidly to popular international cities in the region. Rayani Air operates on Boeing 737s that offer comfortable seating arrangement for both Business and Economy classes. Our aircraft seats are covered with high quality fabric that provides added touch of comfort and luxury. We offer wide legroom that is enough to stretch and recline comfortably,” the airline said. Muslim prayers are part of the take-off procedure, no alcoholic beverages will be available, and all meals will be prepared in accordance with halal standards. The founders of the airline, Ravi Alagendrran and his wife Karthiyani Govindan, a Hindu Indian couple, said the airline offers a sharia-compliant alternative to Malaysia Airlines, who have struggled to attract custom after its two recent disasters - Flight 370 going missing in March 2014, while Flight 17 was downed in an apparent attack over Ukraine a few months later. Rayani Air will initially operate a fleet of two Boeing 737-400 aircraft, configured with 12 seats in business class and 120 in economy. The airline is now flying to KL and Langkawi, with services to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu expected to follow.