Air India ‘rations’ airport lounge alcohol
State-owned flag carrier Air India has introduced strict limits to the amount of alcohol its passengers can consume in airport lounges pre-flight.
Air India has restricted alcohol to its lounge passengers, according to reportsAccording to The Times of India, the airline introduced the policy after concerns were raised by a number of airlines as on-board incidents of rowdy behaviour continue to increase.
The bar at the AI lounge for international business- and first-class passengers at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, now limits guests to three 45ml servings of spirits, two 200ml glasses of wine or three pints of beer, according to reports.
“A similar order has been put up at the AI lounge at Hyderabad airport,” an official told the newspaper.
It is understood that restrictions have also been imposed at Mumbai International Airport and that Chennai and Kolkata may follow.
On-board disruption as a result of passenger drunkenness has become a growing problem for the global airline industry. Last year in the UK, leisure airline Jet2.com and World Duty Free partnered in a trial to reduce “illicit” consumption of travel retail-bought alcohol mid-flight.
