At the beginning of the year, many people are trying to recover from the excesses of the holidays and, even without this, it must be recognized that the very wet service of some airlines in Business or First can make the aftermath of long flights difficult.
On the other hand, there are airlines with which you do not risk a hangover and for good reason: they will not serve you alcohol. We are not talking, of course, about those who do not serve it at certain services such as breakfast, but those who forbid it altogether. And the list is much longer than you might think.
Saudi Arabian Airlines, Iran Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airway, Afriqiyah Airlines
Saudia is one of the airlines that most strictly apply the principles of Islam. Not only will you not be served alcohol, but you will not be allowed to bring on board any alcohol that you may have purchased outside. Same reason and same consequences sur Pakistan International Airline, Kuwait Airway, la low cost Jazeera Airway, Afriqiyah Airlines (Lybie) et Iran Air. This also includes the transport of alcohol in the hold.
Given Saudia’s development ambitions, we are among those who believe that they will lift the ban one day, even if only for long haul flights, but for the moment this is not on the agenda.
Royal Brunei Airlines, EgyptAir, Iraqi Airways
No fun either in the Sultanate of Brunei whose national airline will not serve you alcohol. However, if you bring your own, they will gladly bring you glasses and ice cubes. The same goes for EgyptAir or Iraqi Airways, which do not serve alcohol but do not see any problem with you consuming your own alcohol.
Air India, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Turkish Airlines
Some airlines practice an “Ã la carte” alcohol ban and only prohibit it on domestic flights or flights under a certain duration or in the airspace of an Islamic country.
For example, on Air India and the late Jet Airways, no alcohol is allowed on domestic flights, but you will be served alcohol on international flights. The same goes for Turkish Airlines.
No alcohol on Malaysia Airlines on flights of less than 3 hours.
This list is of course not exhaustive and can vary according to the evolution of the laws and the practices of the airlines and at certain periods of the year (Ramadan).
On the other hand you will have alcohol without problems on Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Oman Air, Garuda Indonesia ….
Tomorrow no more alcohol on RyanAir or Aer Lingus?
Strangely enough, if you fly on an Irish airline like RyanAir or Aer Lingus, you may find yourself on a diet. Okay, we’re not there yet, but the idea is seriously gaining ground.
Knowing that RyanAir dominates by far the ranking of airlines having recorded incidents related to drunken passengers (or “air rage”), the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has been thinking since last year about an outright ban on alcohol on board airlines flying the Irish flag. For now they want to focus on prevention but the option remains on the table.
To this day Ryanair prohibits the consumption of its own alcohol on board and has occasionally prohibited the transport of alcohol to certain festive destinations such as Ibiza in the past.
Crédit Image : Alcohol free flight by patjo via Shutterstock
