Between 2016 and 2018, filmmaker Larry Walford followed my journey as I set out to do the impossible, launch Firnas Airways, a Shariah-compliant airline built from the ground up. The result was a Channel 4 documentary that captured not just the dream, but the struggle of building an airline as a young British Bangladeshi entrepreneur.
In this conversation, we revisit that story:
– Why Larry chose to make the documentary
– The highs and lows of the Firnas journey, which began in 2014
– The reality of risk, rejection, and resilience in aviation
– How it all came to a grinding halt in March 2020, during the UK Covid lockdown
This isn’t just a look back at a failed airline, it’s about the lessons, the scars, and the drive to keep building despite the setbacks.
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Larry Walford Trailer 00:00
Catching Up 02:44
How To Start an Airline, Firnas & Abdul 04:03
Who Is Larry Walford? 22:08
What does the audience want today? Is Kazi a celebrity? 24:14
Has it changed Kazi’s life? 25:35
Larry’s life now 30:47
Ai - resist or absorb? 41:45
Muslim’s and BAME communities in the media 48:37
Risk and trust in documentaries 58:42
Say yes to people, has being a celebrity changed KSR? 1:03:47