In a first for Indian carriers, Air India is rationing the number of alcoholic drinks being served to its premium international passengers at airport lounges across India.
The AI move follows a recent plea by several Indian airlines to aviation authorities to restrict passengers’ access to liquor at departure terminals to check increasing incidents of unruly behaviour by tipsy flyers.
The bar at the AI lounge for business and first class passengers at Delhi airport recently put up a notice limiting service to a maximum of three pegs (45ml) for hard drinks like whisky, vodka and rum; two glasses (200ml) of wine and three pints or bottles of beer.
“Guests can choose any one item among these,” says the notice issued by “order of manager Delhi Airport”. It adds that passengers flying on domestic sectors — say someone flying from Mumbai to Delhi on a Mumbai-Delhi-London flight — will not be served alcohol.
An official of Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) said the order was not issued by the GMR-backed airport operator but by AI. “A similar order has been put up at the AI lounge at Hyderabad airport,” said the official. AI spokespersons did not comment on the matter.
