Nearer my God to Thee...

Press, 24 April 1986, Page 6

Nearer my God to Thee...

By

MATT SPETALNICK,

of Reuter (through NZPA) Miami A group of born-again Christians has formed a new business for prayer and profit — the Lord’s Airline Inc. — to fly three times a week from Miami to the Holy Land. Some religious leaders denounced the choice of name as blasphemy, but the businessmen — convinced they are undertaking a divine mission — have paid little attention to their critics. After years of planning and months of frustrating delays, officials say the airline will soon begin flights. A main American airline, in a display of advertising bravado, once touted itself as the “wings

of man,” but this is the first time any of the world’s passenger carriers have gone so far as to claim to be the wings of God. “The Russians have their airline. The British have one. So does ‘Playboy’! So why shouldn’t the Lord have 5 an airline all His own?” said Ari Marshall, aged 51, the company’s chief executive. The service will be geared to Christian and Jewish pilgrims, and will offer amenities never seen on commercial airlines. Bibles and miniature Torahs will replace in-flight magazines, and alcohol will be prohibited. Gospel hyr.j and religious music will be piped over the public address system. Earphones will

carry sermons, religious discussions and Bible stories. In-flight movies will have biblical themes. It is all part of a vision as seen by Mr Marshall, who, during 30 years in airline marketing, has worked for Pan American World Airways, Air France, and the Soviet Union’s Aeroflot He persuaded several born-again Christian groups to invest SUS 3 million dollars in the enterprise and has spent the last four years winding his way through the Federal bureacracy seeking permission to launch the new carrier. Last year Lord’s Airline acquired its first and only plane, a 24-year-old DCB jet. It was christened the “Flagship Jerusalem,”

emblazoned with the airline’s name in 2.4 metretall letters and decorated on the inside with the Ten Commandments and religious murals. In November Christian and Jewish clergymen were assembled oh the tarmac at Miami International Airport to bless the plane and pray for the airline’s success. For added insurance, the plane was anointed with .barrels of water brought over from the River Jordan. “This plane is a tool of God. We are His custodians,” Mr Marshall said. But the airline has raised a few eyebrows at Miami’s busy airport. One irate official of a secular airline said “It’s a cheap stunt to get busi-

ness from religious travellers.” Although the owners say that their business decisions are guided by a “higher authority,” they see nothing wrong with making a profit from Lord’s Airline. After more than a year of frustrating delays, the airline is still waiting for word from Earthly authorities giving it permission to get off the ground. Before the carrier can book passengers, the United States Department of Transportation must decide whether it has the financial backing and expertise to serve the public. The Federal Aviation Administration has certified the airworthiness of the aircraft, but inspec-

tors have ordered its engines to be muffled to meet Federal noise standards. Mr Marshall said he expected to resolve the remaining regulatory issues over the next few weeks and begin service in mld-June. The Lord’s Airline plans to fly its 186passenger plane three times a week from Miami to Tel Aviv, via Luxemburg, charging about SUSIOOO ($1780) a roundtrip. That, said Mr Marshall, would be just the first step. He is negotiating to buy two more aircraft. When the time comes to expand Mr Marshall hopes to reach for another goal — flying pilgrims to Jerusalem, a destination that has been

placed off-limits to American carriers because the Government regards the city as occupied territory. “We think we can change their minds and become the first,” Mr Marshall said. But he acknowledges that Lord’s Airline may have a difficult time attracting passengers. Americans have become wary about travelling to the Middle East since recent hijackings, bombings, and other violence. “Like all airlines on international routes, we will have to convince the public that we can absolutely guarantee their safety,” Mr Marshall said. If necessary, the airline would carry armed guards on its flights.