Malaysia�s first sharia-compliant airline suspended

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's first Islamic-compliant airline has been suspended for three months after it failed to adhere to aviation regulations, a senior official said yesterday, as the government announced a safety audit of the carrier.
"Rayani Air has been suspended for three months," Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation, told AFP.
"They contravened civil aviation regulations," he said, declining to elaborate.
Muslim flight crew dons the hijab while non-Muslim crew are forbidden from wearing revealing clothing on board the airline, which launched last December.
In-flight meals are completely halal and alcohol consumption is strictly banned.
In recent weeks, however, the carrier had drawn increasing criticism from passengers and the government due to last-minute delays and cancellations.
Pilots of the carrier, which operates two Boeing 737-400s, had gone on strike, further damaging its image.
Rayani Air said Monday in a Facebook post that it was working hard to "to solve our internal matters and get Rayani back on track".

Malaysia�s first sharia-compliant airline suspended

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysias first Islamic-compliant airline has been suspended for three months after it failed to adhere to aviation regulations, a senior official said yesterday, as the government announced a safety audit of the carrier. Rayani Air has been suspended for three months, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation, told AFP. They contravened civil aviation regulations, he said, declining to elaborate. Muslim flight crew dons the hijab while non-Muslim crew are forbidden from wearing revealing clothing on board the airline, which launched last December. In-flight meals are completely halal and alcohol consumption is strictly banned. In recent weeks, however, the carrier had drawn increasing criticism from passengers and the government due to last-minute delays and cancellations. Pilots of the carrier, which operates two Boeing 737-400s, had gone on strike, further damaging its image. Rayani Air said Monday in a Facebook post that it was working hard to to solve our internal matters and get Rayani back on track.