A new Malaysian Shariah-compliant airline has been set up called Waqf Airlines. Unlike its domestic counterpart, Rayani Air, Waqf intends to launch international flights from November to serve Muslin pilgrims seeking travel to Mecca as Jeddah.
Air Riths will be operating Waqf Airlines as a charter-type licence airline. Air Riths is 100 per cent Bumiputera and Muslim-owned incorporated company formed as a joint collaboration between the project founder Perbadanan Wakaf Selangor together with Eco Riths Travel and Tour Sdn Bhd.
Shariah compliance covers all aspects of its operations, from onboard the aircraft to its funding. Uniforms will meet Islamic modesty standards and international safety standards, and its inflight food will be halal. An Islamic cleric will be on board and provide a short tazkirah, or religious talk, during both the outbound and return flight.
Before takeoff, the flight captain will lead passengers in a recitation of prayers for a safe journey; prayer times will also be announced on board and the plane may even provide a small space for passengers to perform their prayers — subject to safety requirements.
The airline will have a Shariah panel to advise and oversee its compliance with Islamic laws.
The airline plans to use A330-300 aircraft with seat configurations of between 300 to 350 passengers per dual class flight. Waqf Airlines intends to offer flights from Jula Lumpur to Mecca and Jeddah in the first instance, expanding operations to fly from other South-east Asian cities and China. Waqf Airlines may seek approval in its fifth year of operations to fly directly from Indonesia to Jeddah and Madinah.
Although Waqf Airlines has been approved for an Air Service Permit (ASP) for chartered flights from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) through Air Riths, it needs to receive its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) before it can start flying.