Flying high is a luxury that everyone wants to try at least once in their life. After all, what attracts us the most about flights is the luxurious services, including gourmet food, recliner beds, in-flight entertainment, and of course premium alcohol. However, not all airlines have jumped onto the bandwagon of serving booze to their guests. Strange as it may seem, here are 7 airlines that don’t serve alcohol.
No Alcohol On These 7 Airlines!
Saudia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is known for its strict rules and regulations, and that applies to its airlines as well. Its national airline, Saudia, adheres to Islamic law that doesn’t permit alcohol consumption. As a result, you won’t find any alcohol being served on their flights. Instead, they offer plenty of other options like soft drinks, tea, and coffee. Moreover, they offer halal food, ensuring that the food consumption also follows Islamic laws. At the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards, Saudia won the title of ‘The World’s Most Improved Airline’ and also ranked number one for the Best Economy Class Airline Catering.
While flying with the award-winning airline, make sure that you do not try stunts like sneaking alcohol onto your flight. This could lead to legal consequences. Moreover, as the air carrier is the primary source of travel for those visiting the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, Saudia has no plans of introducing alcohol on its flights.
Royal Brunei
Royal Brunei is the government-owned national carrier of Brunei. Being a government-owned carrier, it adheres to the Islamic law that bans alcohol consumption. However, to stay competitive against other premier operators, the airline permits its non-Muslim guests to bring their alcohol on board. The crew will help serve it to you along with their award-winning food menu.
Similarly, you can bring alcohol in Brunei for your own consumption, with the cap being on two liters of spirits or wine. The carrier duly complies with the conservative standards expected within the sultanate’s legal and cultural framework while also catering to modern standards. Also, did you know that Captain Sharifah Czarena, working for Royal Brunei is Southeast Asia’s first female airline captain!
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan is one of the largest countries with a majority Muslim population, which means that it takes its Islamic laws very seriously. It’s Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), headquartered in Karachi. The airline carrier maintains strict restrictions on alcohol consumption and doesn’t serve it on its flights. No matter how they acquire alcohol, passengers are not allowed to consume alcohol.
Be it duty-free purchases, personal supplies, or any other sources of alcohol, passengers will not be allowed to consume alcohol. PIA follows strict laws to reflect Pakistan’s status as an Islamic Republic, and those not follow the same shall meet with legal actions.
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Jazeera Airways
Jazeera Airways is one of Kuwait’s major air carriers that makes budget travel convenient for flyers. As it is majorly operates in the Middle Eastern region, it is bound to adhere to cultural and religious legislations that prohibit alcohol consumption by Muslim people. Just like Kuwait’s national carrier, Kuwait Airways, it does not serve alcohol to guests on its flights. Instead, you can enjoy other soft drinks, coffee, and tea on-board.
Despite running on a budget aviation model, the air carrier maintains high standards when it comes to services and amenities – ensuring that passengers have the most sophisticated experience possible. It manages to deliver an exceptional service while also incorporating religious and sociocultural considerations.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia is Middle East’s first low-cost carrier and is based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Despite being a low-cost carrier, it is one of the most renowned airlines in the world for its exceptional service. Just like other Middle Eastern countries, the laws in UAE prohibit Air Arabia from serving alcohol on their flights. This is to adhere to traditional religious values of the Muslim-majority country.
Moreover, the emirate it is based in, Sharjah, maintains stricter alcohol consumption policies compared to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Over the years, Air Arabia has significantly expanded operations in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Despite continuously expanding its global reach, the air carrier has no plans in the near future to steer away from its alcohol-free standards.
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Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Bangladesh is a country known for its predominantly Muslim population. And to respect the religious and cultural sentiments of the Muslim population, its flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines does not serve alcohol on any of its routes. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has expanded its network in South Asia, Middle East, and parts of Europe.
However, despite having global connectivity, the airline does not plan to introduce alcohol on its flights. This is to ensure that Bangladeshi travelers can access international destinations while maintaining their cultural standards.
Summing Up
If you notice, all of the above airlines that don’t serve alcohol do so to adhere to the Islamic law in their respective countries. By prioritizing social and religious values over hospitality standards, these air carriers respect local culture and the integrity of their people. Moreover, the success of these airlines demonstrates that you need not always serve alcohol on flights to ‘uphold’ certain global hospitality standards. So, if you’re a traveler who doesn’t consume alcohol for any reason, you’ll surely have a great experience when flying with these carriers.
