Rayani Air
{{Short description|Full-service airline in Malaysia}}
{{Distinguish|Ryanair}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Rayani Air
| logo = Rayani Air.png
| logo_size = 125
| fleet_size = 2
| destinations = 6
| IATA = RN
| ICAO = RKT
| callsign = BLUE GREEN
| parent =
| founded = 2015
| ceased = 2016
| headquarters = Shah Alam
| key_people =
| hubs = {{nowrap|Kuala Lumpur International Airport}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.rayaniair.com/}}
}}
Rayani Air Sdn. Bhd. (doing business as Rayani Air; Jawi: {{Script/Arabic|راياني أير}}, {{langx|ta|ரயாணி ஏர்}}) was a full-service airline in Malaysia, headquartered in Shah Alam, Selangor, in the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area.[http://rayaniair.com/rairweb/index.php# Home page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114001122/http://rayaniair.com/rairweb/index.php |date=14 January 2016 }}. Rayani Air. Retrieved on 10 January 2016. "Rayani Air Sdn. Bhd. No.22-1A Blok 2, Jalan Pahat G-15G Dataran Otomobil Seksyen 15 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor" It was the first Sharia-compliant airline in Malaysia and the fourth such airline in the world, after Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), Saudi Arabian Airlines and Iran Air. No alcoholic beverages or pork were served on board in accordance with Islamic dietary laws and prayers were recited before every flight. It was forced to cease operations after only five months due to management, safety and security issues, pilot strikes, and lack of funding.
History
Rayani Air was founded by Ravi Alagendrran and his wife Karthiyani Govindan, both of Malaysian Indian descent.{{Cite news|title = Ethnic Indian couple launches Malaysia's 1st Islamic airline|url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/rayani-air-ethnic-indian-couple-launches-malaysias-1st-islamic-airline/article8022081.ece|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 23 December 2015|access-date = 24 December 2015|issn = 0971-751X|language = English}} The name Rayani is said to be a combination of the first names of the founders.
Rayani Airlines was originally intended to be based at Malacca International Airport, with its inaugural flight expected to take place in August 2014.{{cite news|title=Rayani Air|url=http://airlinenews.asia/rayani-air/| publisher= Airline News Asia |archivedate=13 August 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813031603/http://airlinenews.asia/rayani-air/ |accessdate=8 March 2018}} However, the airline changed its base to Langkawi International Airport to attract tourists to the resort island.{{cite news|title=New budget airline Rayani Air picks Langkawi as hub |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/11/06/new-budget-airline-rayani-air-picks-langkawi-as-hub/| author= BERNAMA|publisher= FMT News}} It was previously rumoured that Rayani Air would be launched as a low-cost carrier; however, the airline officially positioned itself as a full-service carrier in December 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.guangming.com.my/node/278145?tid=84 |title=First Sharia-compliant airline, Rayani Air, launches in Malaysia |date=19 December 2015 |language=Chinese |publisher=Guang Ming Daily}}
On 20 December 2015, the airline's inaugural flight to Langkawi (RN600) took off smoothly.{{cite web|url=http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/585548-rayani-air-to-begin-operations-sunday.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221005816/http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/585548-rayani-air-to-begin-operations-sunday.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 December 2015|title=Rayani Air To Begin Operations Sunday|work=Astro Awani|publisher=Malaysian Digest|date=19 December 2015|accessdate=20 December 2015}}
The airline was planning to co-operate with Royal Brunei Airlines to strengthen the Sharia-compliant airline concept within the aviation industry.{{cite news|url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/rayani-air-bakal-lantik-mursyidul-am-pas-sebagai-penasihat|title=Rayani Air bakal lantik mursyidul am PAS sebagai penasihat|publisher=The Malaysian Insider|date=3 January 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106092313/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/rayani-air-bakal-lantik-mursyidul-am-pas-sebagai-penasihat|archivedate=6 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}
On 9 April 2016, Rayani Air temporarily suspended all operations until further notice, citing 'restructuring exercises' in an announcement made by its co-founder.{{cite news|url=http://www.mstar.com.my/berita/berita-semasa/2016/04/09/rayani-air-gantung-operasi/|title=Rayani Air Gantung Operasi|work=mStar Online|publisher=mStar Online|date=9 April 2016|accessdate=9 April 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/rayani-air-halts-operations-after-pilot-strike|title=Rayani Air halts operations after pilot strike|work=Malay Mail Online|publisher=Malay Mail Online|date=9 April 2016|accessdate=9 April 2016}}
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) announced in a statement on 13 June 2016 that Rayani Air's licence had been revoked, saying it had breached the conditions of its licence and lacked the financial and management capacity to continue operating as a commercial airline.{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2016/06/13/mavcom-revokes-rayani-air-licence/|title=Mavcom revokes Rayani Air's licence|work=The Star Online|publisher=The Star|date=13 June 2016|accessdate=13 June 2016}}
Destinations
Fleet
File:Rayani Air Boeing 737-400 (9M-RKA and 9M-RKB) at KLIA.jpg]]
Before ceasing operations, the airline's fleet consisted of two Boeing 737-400 aircraft, with the following on order: two more Boeing 737-400s, four Boeing 737-800s and two Boeing 777-200s.
Accidents and incidents
- In March 2016, Rayani Air faced several issues and numerous complaints, highlighted in several media outlets.{{cite web|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/03/134221/rayani-air-faces-suspension-if-services-fail-improve|title=Rayani Air faces suspension if services fail to improve|publisher=New Straits Times|accessdate=28 March 2016}} Passengers complained that the airline frequently rescheduled flights, often up to 13 hours later. The airline also frequently cancelled flights without advance notice and without compensation or assistance to affected passengers. It was reported that pilots refused to fly because of the poor condition of the aircraft.{{cite news|url=http://photo.chinatimes.com/20160411001576-260803 |script-title=zh:它是「最短命」航空之一 僅營運了110天 |trans-title=It is one of the shortest-lived airlines operating for only 110 days|work=China Times|date=12 April 2016|accessdate=11 April 2016 | language = zh-tw}}
- Politician Lau Weng San criticised the airline for using handwritten boarding passes, posing a security threat to the aviation industry.{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/security-threat-transport-ministry-probes-rayani-air-for-handwritten-boardi|title=Security threat? Transport Ministry probes Rayani Air for handwritten boarding passes|publisher=The Malay Mail|accessdate=28 March 2016}} This led the Minister of Transport Liow Tiong Lai to state that the airline would be investigated and suspended if necessary.{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/03/21/liow-suspension-of-rayani-air-possible/|title=Liow: Suspension of Rayani Air possible|work=The Star|accessdate=28 March 2016}} On 11 April 2016, Rayani Air was officially suspended for 3 months.{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/04/11/rayani-air-suspended-for-three-months/|title=Rayani Air suspended for three months|author=Joseph Kaos Jr|work=The Star|date=11 April 2016|accessdate=11 April 2016}} Its licence was permanently revoked two months later.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category inline|Rayani Air}}
- {{Twitter}}
- {{instagram|rayaniair}}
{{Portalbar|Malaysia|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Malaysia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rayani Air}}
Category:Defunct airlines of Malaysia
Category:Airlines established in 2015
Category:Airlines disestablished in 2016