Airline trade group calls for booze ban at Indian airports
An Indian airline trade group wants to end alcohol sales in domestic airport departure lounges.
The serving of liquor in security hold areas at domestic terminals has caused numerous alcohol-fuelled incidents in airports and on planes, says the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA).
FIA, which represents IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and GoAir, has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to act.
“Several domestic airports in India have outlets in the security hold areas selling alcohol thus allowing passengers to consume prohibited alcoholic drinks after they have checked-in and have undergone security checks at the domestic terminal,” a FIA letter addressed to the regulator said.
Alcohol related problems can cause ‘huge flight delays’ it said.
“In view of the safety concern and to avoid any inconvenience to the travelling passengers, FIA requests you to kindly review the policy allowing the sale of alcoholic drinks in the SHA at the airports and prohibit the same,” it said.
A FIA official said the group would again press the DGCA as it had not yet received an official response to its concerns.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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