You may well be able to order your favourite rum, vodka or wine on a domestic flight. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Thursday said there was no reason for not allowing alcohol on domestic flights.
When asked if his ministry was in favour of allowing Kingfisher Airlines to serve alcohol on domestic flights, Patel told reporters, “There is no real ostensible reason why it should not be allowed. In the past, we did allow alcohol in domestic sectors. International flights do have it on board. Especially, when there is no ban on drinking on ground before getting on board.”
In the past, private carriers Damania and East West did serve alcohol on domestic flights. But the beer-on-board policy of Damania led to many brawls among drunken passengers, forcing the airline to stop serving alcohol. Aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, had to prohibit liquor from being served on-board. Globally, liquor is allowed on domestic flights in most countries. British Airways serves alcohol. In the US, however, airlines require a special licence to do so.
Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya—who owns India’s largest spirits manufacturer UB Group — has been pushing for allowing liquor on domestic routes. UB Group is the third largest spirits manufacturer in the world with 140 brands under its belt, including popular brands such as Bagpiper, McDowell and Kingfisher.
“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will have to take a call on this. If it notifies, it can be allowed,” Patel said. But he made it clear that no proposal with regard to reintroduction of alcohol on domestic routes had reached the ministry. Therefore, no immediate action could be expected. But he promised to look into the matter.
When asked if his ministry was in favour of allowing Kingfisher Airlines to serve alcohol on domestic flights, Patel told reporters, “There is no real ostensible reason why it should not be allowed. In the past, we did allow alcohol in domestic sectors. International flights do have it on board. Especially, when there is no ban on drinking on ground before getting on board.”
In the past, private carriers Damania and East West did serve alcohol on domestic flights. But the beer-on-board policy of Damania led to many brawls among drunken passengers, forcing the airline to stop serving alcohol. Aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, had to prohibit liquor from being served on-board. Globally, liquor is allowed on domestic flights in most countries. British Airways serves alcohol. In the US, however, airlines require a special licence to do so.
Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya—who owns India’s largest spirits manufacturer UB Group — has been pushing for allowing liquor on domestic routes. UB Group is the third largest spirits manufacturer in the world with 140 brands under its belt, including popular brands such as Bagpiper, McDowell and Kingfisher.
“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will have to take a call on this. If it notifies, it can be allowed,” Patel said. But he made it clear that no proposal with regard to reintroduction of alcohol on domestic routes had reached the ministry. Therefore, no immediate action could be expected. But he promised to look into the matter.
