Does A Christian Airline Exist?

lesfalls · Mon Mar 14, 2016 5:50 pm

I know that Saudia has a praying room in the back of their longhaul aircraft and they say a muslim prayer before takeoff. This made me wonder if there is/was a Christian,Hindu or Buddhist airline?

[Edited 2016-03-14 10:53:04]

[Edited 2016-03-14 11:06:47]

a380787 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 5:53 pm

If Trump Shuttle still existed today, it could count as one.

MaverickM11 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 5:54 pm

Much like the Lord, his airline needed more money

"The Lord's Airline" - Serious? (by Aviatsiya Feb 15 2002 in Civil Aviation)

Braniff747SP · Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:31 pm

No, of course not.

Republic is probably as close as you're going to get.

Polot · Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:37 pm

AS use to give out prayer cards with the meal.

Freshside3 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:45 pm

Does LY have any special provisions for prayer on their flights??

ASFlyer · Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:54 pm

Quoting Polot (Reply 4):
AS use to give out prayer cards with the meal.

I was going to mention Republic Airlines and their scripture quoting President, but then I remember my own airline and our ridiculous prayer cards. Funny thing, I got more positive comments than negative about those cards but, as things go with most airlines now, the almighty dollar spoke. $$$ eventually outweighed the religious convictions of a few board members. Well, that and they stopped giving free food away and it made little sense to continue printing those for 12-16 people per flight. In any case, I'm glad they're gone because it really wasn't appropriate.

[Edited 2016-03-14 11:55:37]

Devilfish · Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:04 pm

Quoting lesfalls (Thread starter):
I know that Saudia has a praying room in the back of their longhaul aircraft and they say a muslim prayer before takeoff. This made me wonder if there is/was a Christian,Hindu or Buddhist airline?

Strictly not an airline, so does this qualify?.....

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © DJ Reed - OPShots Photo Team

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Thomas Yan - AHKGAP

It has undergone what you might call a religious conversion of sorts.

rbavfan · Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:28 pm

Joel Osteen has enough planes to start one! And it would be tax free, on the churches end, not passenger end.

airlineaddict · Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:31 pm

I know all of Philippine Airlines new plane types are blessed (sprinkled with holy water) by a Catholic priest.

tonystan · Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:50 pm

Didn't the Vatican try an airline recently with crew trained to deal with "spiritual" matters on board?

All a bunch of voodoo if you ask me! Keep religion out of the cockpit and a scientifically minded flight crew in!

turjo101 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:52 pm

Quoting Devilfish (Reply 7):

That 'Star Triple Seven' should have been a pre-owned 772.

TFFIP · Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:54 pm

ARIK air a340 is called Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Aer Lingus A320s carry Saint's names

EA CO AS · Mon Mar 14, 2016 7:55 pm

Quoting ASFlyer (Reply 6):
I got more positive comments than negative about those cards

The ratio of compliments to complaints received about them in Corporate was also heavily on the side of the positive.

AA777223 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:36 pm

I've always found it odd the freedom to practice one's religious beliefs or show them openly is vehemently defended UNLESS it is Christian. I don't understand why Christianity gets singled out more than the others. Simply because in the US, it represents the majority?

"Majority rules, minority rights" - that sort of thing?

AA777223 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:40 pm

Quoting a380787 (Reply 1):

If Trump Shuttle still existed today, it could count as one.

I'd doubt that one. The Christians I've met seem to hate the man. It seems (in my admittedly limited sample size) that he appeals to the non-evangelical conservatives. It's hard to say, because I haven't actually met anyone who does suport him. However, I can definitely say that the Christians I have met, do not.

32andBelow · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:42 pm

Quoting lesfalls (Thread starter):

I know that Saudia has a praying room in the back of their longhaul aircraft and they say a muslim prayer before takeoff. This made me wonder if there is/was a Christian,Hindu or Buddhist airline?

Not sure why you didn't include Jews. But LY has many people praying in the plane as well as an arrow showing Jerusalem on the IFE screen.

rlwynn · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:44 pm

Skywest is as close as it gets.

PlymSpotter · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:44 pm

Inevitably there are some airlines out there which are by default run to Christian principles, due to their senior management figure/team being deeply religious. These are typically regional/smaller carriers, operating a handful of aircraft.

So long as it doesn't affect safety, that's their business.

Dan

ec99 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:46 pm

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 14):
I've always found it odd the freedom to practice one's religious beliefs or show them openly is vehemently defended UNLESS it is Christian. I don't understand why Christianity gets singled out more than the others. Simply because in the US, it represents the majority?

If this was in the Non-Av section there would be a lot of things I could respond to this with.

And the reason we have no religious airlines in the USA is because airlines are corporations with stockholders. In a diverse country, you want to have as broad an appeal as possible. Places like Chick-Fil-a keep their religious affiliation by being privately controlled but airlines are largely to big to be privately owned. Religious affiliations with airlines tend to happen when they are government owned or with countries that restrict freedom of religion.

32andBelow · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:49 pm

Quoting rlwynn (Reply 17):

700 aircraft airline HDQ'd in ST. George Utah. They barely even have service there.

shankly · Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:59 pm

Quoting lesfalls (Thread starter):
This made me wonder if there is/was a Christian,Hindu or Buddhist airline?

of course:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Alastair T. Gardiner

AA777223 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:09 pm

Quoting ec99 (Reply 19):
If this was in the Non-Av section there would be a lot of things I could respond to this with.

I didn't mean to offend you; I'm sorry if I did. I tried to pose the question as objectively as possible.

I know that practices such as wearing a head scarf are defended by many civil liberty groups. It seems that the rights to display Christian religious symbols is opposed by the same groups, instead of defended by them. I was just trying to pose the interrogative. Please do not take it as anything otherwise.

MaxxFlyer · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:21 pm

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 15):

I'd doubt that one. The Christians I've met seem to hate the man. It seems (in my admittedly limited sample size) that he appeals to the non-evangelical conservatives. It's hard to say, because I haven't actually met anyone who does suport him. However, I can definitely say that the Christians I have met, do not.

I don't want this thread to turn political, but based on what I've seen on the various networks, Mr. Trump has wide appeal among evangelicals. Why I am not sure.

ua900 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:22 pm

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 15):
The Christians I've met seem to hate the man. It seems (in my admittedly limited sample size) that he appeals to the non-evangelical conservatives. It's hard to say, because I haven't actually met anyone who does suport him. However, I can definitely say that the Christians I have met, do not.

Social conservatives don't like him, for starters he doesn't seem to go to church, has been married a couple times, seems to be pro-choice, among others. Fiscal conservatives and free market types, they seem to like him. Doubt his sentiments ever made it aboard one of his commercially operated planes though.

Quoting rlwynn (Reply 17):
Skywest is as close as it gets.

Quoting Braniff747SP (Reply 3):
Republic is probably as close as you're going to get.

How so? I've flown both of them and never saw anything particularly religious in the way they were run? Are you guys basing this on ownership, e.g. OO is in Utah, thus Mormon, thus religious or something like that?

If so, the ME carriers tend to be owned by religious owners too.

Quoting ec99 (Reply 19):
Religious affiliations with airlines tend to happen when they are government owned or with countries that restrict freedom of religion.

See above ME carriers

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 14):
"Majority rules, minority rights" - that sort of thing?

Perhaps.

Quoting turjo101 (Reply 11):
That 'Star Triple Seven' should have been a pre-owned 772.

Funny how you can have enough money for a 747SP but not enough sense to name it appropriately. I guess they can get a 772 for cheap next, SP should get pretty expensive on maintenance by now.

Quoting shankly (Reply 21):
of course:

Wonder where N950PB is now.

I know N666UA on it's way to my hometown as we speak

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N666UA

[Edited 2016-03-14 14:44:14]

sassiciai · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:25 pm

I'm sorry, but there may be a serious typo in the thread title, or else there is a new sect somewhere.

Who are the "Christans"? Do they believe in the future of the A380? The B779? The next coming of the B737? Or maybe they are against all modern developments!

Qatara340 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:30 pm

I think there is Budda Air of Nepal which crashed a few months ago.

32andBelow · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:37 pm

Quoting ua900 (Reply 24):
As you guys basing this on ownership, e.g. OO is in Utah, thus Mormon, thus religious or something like that?

A huge airline based in St. George Utah, come on man.

VirginFlyer · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:43 pm

Well there's this charter operator based out of Ardmore Airport (AMZ/NZAR) in Auckland:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Jonathan Rankin

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Frank Schaefer

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Bevan Anderson

Yes, it is Christian as in the faith. See http://www.chn.co.nz

In Vanuatu there is a Bahá'í airline (well at least it is run by a Bahá'í and carries a quote of Bahá'u'lláh on the aircraft - "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." - you can just see it in the photo of the Islander below, and I believe it is on the inward facing engine cowl on the Chieftain). See http://www.unity-airlines.com

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Virginflyer

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Raimund Stehmann

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Alan Lebeda

(And no, the Virginflyer who took the above photo is not me)

V/F

[Edited 2016-03-14 14:51:59]

ua900 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:52 pm

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 27):
A huge airline based in St. George Utah, come on man.

The mgmt. seem like typical airline managers to me. I've never seen their pilots make any religious references, their F/As didn't strike me as religious either. Not saying none of them are religious, they very well could be, just saying it doesn't seem to show in airline from a pax point of view. OO isn't a dry airline like say SV, quite the contrary.

32andBelow · Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:53 pm

Quoting ua900 (Reply 29):
The mgmt. seem like typical airline managers to me. I've never seen their pilots make any religious references, their F/As didn't strike me as religious either. Not saying none of them are religious, they very well could be, just saying it doesn't seem to show in airline from a pax point of view. OO isn't a dry airline like say SV, quite the contrary.

99% of the airline doesnt even touch ST George which makes the hdq location all the more curious. They should probably at least be in LAS.

ltbewr · Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:02 pm

Some European airlines have no or limited operations on Christmas Day, in deference to Christian customs but most likely due to staffing issues. I am quite sure a lot Christian payers are said by pax and flight staff when trouble during flights.

seabosdca · Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:08 pm

An airline can't have a religion. There is no such thing as a "Christian airline" any more than there is a "Christian fire hydrant."

An airline may be under the control of a government that has established a religion (Saudia); it may avoid scheduling flights at particular times in deference to religious custom (El Al); it may choose to make accommodations for passengers of a particular religion (many Middle Eastern airlines); it may fly charters for religious pilgrimages (every company with large widebodies available for charter); it may be run by executives who are believers in a religion (likely all the US airlines). But it is not "Christian" or "Muslim." Those are adjectives that apply either to people or a religion itself.

ua900 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:09 pm

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 30):
99% of the airline doesnt even touch ST George which makes the hdq location all the more curious. They should probably at least be in LAS.

99% of LH flights don't touch CGN and 99% of LX flights don't touch BSL. Although that does make me wonder about LH a bit

http://www.cologne-tourism.com/city-experience/holy-cologne.html

32andBelow · Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:31 pm

Quoting ua900 (Reply 33):
99% of LH flights don't touch CGN and 99% of LX flights don't touch BSL. Although that does make me wonder about LH a bit http://www.cologne-tourism.com/city-experience/holy-cologne.html

I don't know if you understand the size of St Geroge Utah and where it is located. It is the middle of nowhere.

afcjets · Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:48 pm

Quoting Braniff747SP (Reply 3):

Republic is probably as close as you're going to get.

At first I thought you were talking about the original Republic airline that merged into Northwest.

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 14):
I've always found it odd the freedom to practice one's religious beliefs or show them openly is vehemently defended UNLESS it is Christian. I don't understand why Christianity gets singled out more than the others. Simply because in the US, it represents the majority?

The irony is those who bash Christianity left and right are just helping fulfill the prophecy that Christians will constantly face persecution.

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 27):
A huge airline based in St. George Utah, come on man.

When I think of Utah, I think of MLM organizations, not a Christian airline.

Devilfish · Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:58 pm

Quoting ua900 (Reply 24):
Quoting turjo101 (Reply 11):
That 'Star Triple Seven' should have been a pre-owned 772.
[.....]
I guess they can get a 772 for cheap next, SP should get pretty expensive on maintenance by now.

It would have been cost prohibitive for the Ministry to acquire a T7 around the time they did...being first offered to airlines in 1990 with first flight in 1994.

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Udo K. Haafke

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Andrew Morley

Unlike today when SG is scrapping eleven-year-old 773s. Not sure if they're liquid enough to upgrade to it, mind.

Quoting ua900 (Reply 24):

Funny how you can have enough money for a 747SP but not enough sense to name it appropriately.

One thing I can say though is they pray and travel around in style...

...

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

[Edited 2016-03-14 16:13:12]

EA CO AS · Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:01 pm

Quoting ltbewr (Reply 31):
Some European airlines have no or limited operations on Christmas Day, in deference to Christian customs

Many U.S. carriers cut back some of their normal daily ops on Christmas Day, but it's more about a single-day drop in demand than anything else.

nikeherc · Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:08 pm

Quoting afcjets (Reply 35):

You do realize that the actual name of the Mormon Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints?

afcjets · Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:15 pm

Quoting nikeherc (Reply 38):

Yes

ua900 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:46 pm

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 34):
I don't know if you understand the size of St Geroge Utah and where it is located. It is the middle of nowhere.

IMO that's befitting a regional / express carrier. I think I passed through there about 10 years ago on my way to Wyoming. That must have been the westernmost Shoney's there. Small town, skiing, but not a dry town/county. I wouldn't want to live there, but evidently some people don't mind. I passed through McMinnville, Oregon one time as well, same story, but the size of the town didn't stop Evergreen from having their HQ there.

Quoting Devilfish (Reply 36):
It would have been cost prohibitive for the Ministry to acquire a T7 around the time they did...being first offered to airlines in 1990 with first flight in 1994.

Well, maybe now's the time in case the SP is getting long in the tooth. Moving on to the next used Suburban...

Quoting Devilfish (Reply 36):
One thing I can say though is they pray and travel around in style... ...

You got that right. It's got all the charm of an IR 747. Might be way too old for commercial operations but all of us would take her for spin any time if we could.

Quoting EA CO AS (Reply 37):
Many U.S. carriers cut back some of their normal daily ops on Christmas Day, but it's more about a single-day drop in demand than anything else.

Supply and demand. Notwithstanding that they'd work the crews just as much as any other day. Airlines aren't Costco or Inn-n-out.

Quoting afcjets (Reply 35):
When I think of Utah, I think of MLM organizations, not a Christian airline.

Quoting nikeherc (Reply 38):
You do realize that the actual name of the Mormon Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints?

Quoting lesfalls (Thread starter):
I know that Saudia has a praying room in the back of their longhaul aircraft and they say a muslim prayer before takeoff. This made me wonder if there is/was a Christian, Hindu or Buddhist airline?

Ok, since we also covered Islamic airlines why don't we settle on religious as opposed to "I think they are / I don't think they are"? I don't see "Christian, Hindu or Buddhist" airlines flying any different than a secular airline.

I've seen lots of prayers on ME carriers and even on Western airliners, but none of these where attributable to the airline having a policy around it. If there's no prayer room they'll go somewhere towards the rear galley. I've seen passengers cross themselves on takeoff and landing in the solitude of their seat or together with their seatmate, but again that's neither an airline policy nor an airline practice.

Airbus747 · Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:57 pm

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 14):
I've always found it odd the freedom to practice one's religious beliefs or show them openly is vehemently defended UNLESS it is Christian. I don't understand why Christianity gets singled out more than the others. Simply because in the US, it represents the majority?

I'm an aviation enthusiast and a former atheist who became Christian.

I think the answer to this is blatantly simple albeit silly, and it may not be true for everyone:
- most people who promote such freedoms come from Western cultures;
- most Western cultures were shaped or influenced by Christianity one way or another;
- even if those people don't follow God/Christianity/faith, they identify it as part of their own cultural past, part of their roots, something from their own past that they have evolved from;
- thus, the people who defend the veil but laugh at the cross want to respect other cultures; but they perceive Christianity as an obsolete remnant of their own past, a previous phase in the evolution of their own society.

This is more or less how most of my atheist friends (and I, when I used to be like them) thought:
let the exotic foreign cultures be themselves, while we should encourage our own Western society to evolve from our past.

But today I realize: it's just pure hypocrisy.

Democracy = survival of the loudest

IPFreely · Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:49 am

The airline may not be specifically Christian but I understand that lots of people have been seen praying on G4 flights lately.

32andBelow · Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:05 am

Quoting ua900 (Reply 40):
IMO that's befitting a regional / express carrier. I think I passed through there about 10 years ago on my way to Wyoming. That must have been the westernmost Shoney's there. Small town, skiing, but not a dry town/county. I wouldn't want to live there, but evidently some people don't mind. I passed through McMinnville, Oregon one time as well, same story, but the size of the town didn't stop Evergreen from having their HQ there.

Except Skywest is more comparable to Fedex having their HDQ in McMinnvile, Oregon.

Matt6461 · Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:13 am

Passenger no, cargo yes.

[Edited 2016-03-14 18:14:18]

lesfalls · Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:22 am

Quoting IPFreely (Reply 42):

It must be because they have brand new aircraft

airfrnt · Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:22 am

To the degree that there are Chrsitian influences, it's as individuals, rarely corporations. Most of the major carriers are much too afraid as being labeled Christian, or even American as opposed to International and Secular to wear that as part of their corporate branding.

Quoting AA777223 (Reply 15):

I'd doubt that one. The Christians I've met seem to hate the man. It seems (in my admittedly limited sample size) that he appeals to the non-evangelical conservatives. It's hard to say, because I haven't actually met anyone who does suport him. However, I can definitely say that the Christians I have met, do not.

In fact, the number one predictor of a anti-trump voter is one that attends church weekly. As a group that's a stronger predictor then party alignment. Trump has a lot of support with blue-dogs, and his anti-establishment message is just as targeted at conservatives as it is at party insiders (who also tend to identify as conservitives).

In short, don't believe everything that MSNBC sells you.

As the WSJ notes:

Donald Trump holds a dominant position in national polls in the Republican race in no small part because he is extremely strong among people on the periphery of the G.O.P. coalition.

He is strongest among Republicans who are less affluent, less educated and less likely to turn out to vote. His very best voters are self-identified Republicans who nonetheless are registered as Democrats. It’s a coalition that’s concentrated in the South, Appalachia and the industrial North, according to data provided to The Upshot by Civis Analytics, a Democratic data firm.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/up...certain-kind-of-democrat.html?_r=0

[Edited 2016-03-14 18:23:20]

[Edited 2016-03-14 18:24:41]

planeguy · Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:37 am

Quoting airlineaddict (Reply 9):

Quote:
I know all of Philippine Airlines new plane types are blessed (sprinkled with holy water) by a Catholic priest.

Doesn't something similar happen when EI takes delivery of a new aircraft?

IMissPiedmont · Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:58 am

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 27):

So, the airline need to move headquarters because some believe that anyone that lives in Utah is a Mormon. You are aware that they started there and have grown tremendously.

Freshside3 · Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:32 am

Quoting airlineaddict (Reply 9):
I know all of Philippine Airlines new plane types are blessed (sprinkled with holy water) by a Catholic priest.

Quoting planeguy (Reply 47):
Doesn't something similar happen when EI takes delivery of a new aircraft?

TG has a Buddhist monk bless the new planes, upon delivery, as well.

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net