Air India limits halal meal service to select routes
New policy offers Hindus, Sikhs non-Halal food
In a major shift, Tata-owned Air India (AI) has announced it would no longer provide halal-certified non-vegetarian meals for Hindu and Sikh passengers.
Instead, halal meals will be available only as "Muslim Meals" (MOML), which can be pre-booked for flights and will come with halal certification.
This updated policy, effective from November 10, applies across AI's operations except for certain routes, such as those to Saudi Arabia and Haj pilgrimage flights, where all meals will remain halal-certified.
Halal meals by pre-booking only
The new policy, communicated in an internal circular, comes as AI consolidates operations with Vistara, also owned by Tata Group.
“Pre-booked meal labelled with MOML sticker is to be treated as a special meal,” reads the internal circular, adding that "a Halal Certificate will be provided only for the pre-booked MOML meal. All meals on Saudi sectors will be halal and halal certificate will be provided on Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh, Medina sectors, including Haj flights.”
The circular also highlighted that this policy applies only to flights outside of Saudi-bound and Haj routes, where standard meal options will continue to be available if pre-booked.
New approach for efficiency, diversity
An Air India official told The Times of India, “We continue to give meal options to passengers for convenience. Now meal service has been streamlined (due to bigger size and scale of AI) and preferred meals need to be pre-booked.”
Air India's move comes in response to both logistical challenges and the need to be more inclusive to different faith groups in India.
For Hindu and Sikh passengers, non-halal meals are now available as part of a broader selection of inflight dining options, reviewed periodically to enhance passenger satisfaction.
Reaction to AI’s new meal policy
The revised halal policy has generated mixed reactions from passengers and aviation analysts. While some applaud the effort to diversify meal options, others feel AI should continue to accommodate all religious needs.
As Air India evolves under Tata's stewardship, the airline’s focus on streamlined services is expected to bolster its market position and enhance passenger experience.