No more halal meals for Hindu and Sikh communities on Air India airlines

Air India recently had a drastic change in its policy on in-flight meals.

Air India Airlines will not serve any halal or non-vegetarian meals to Hindu and Sikh communities.

On the flip side, Muslim passengers can still pre-book the halal meal under the category of “MOML” i.

e.

, Muslim Meal.

The move, effective November 10, aims to cater to its diverse passengers’ different tastes.

The airline has been under pressure to serve non-halal meal options to those who dislike the airline’s marketing and promotion of halal, pejoratively referred to as the “halal mafia.

” According to the new policy, the airline will offer non-halal non-vegetarian options while not losing any options for those who may prefer a halal meal.

Air India Halal Meals Only Available on Pre-Booking Passengers who would like to have meals certified as being halal now have to pre-book the MOML option.

It said that all MOML meals would be hallmarked, and would come along with a certificate of halal by one of the several prominent organizations that authenticate halal status.

This policy will continue on Saudi route flights to Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh, and Medinah besides Haj services wherein all meals will continue to have a halal status.

Another contentious issue was the classification of meal orders between “Hindu Meal” and “Muslim Meal”.

Now, the airlines have decided to retain the provision for strictly pre-booked halal meals at their option, thus saving the flexibility enjoyed by Muslim passengers and also meeting concerns from the other sections.

Air India, in a press statement, pointed out that MOML meals are part of the SPML category and will be served only when ordered in advance.

Advocates for cultural inclusivity have welcomed the new meal policy, as this fits the general pattern of diversity catering except that religious restrictions are taken into account.

Also, see: Vistara Airlines take its last flight today, set to merge with Air India.