In a significant decision, Tata Group-owned Air India has announced it will no longer serve ‘halal’ certified meals to Hindu and Sikh passengers on its flights. Instead, pre-booked meals labeled as MOML (Muslim Meal) will be treated as a special meal (SPML) option, and only these meals will have halal certification. For flights to Saudi Arabian destinations, including Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh, and Medina, all meals will continue to be halal-certified, especially on Hajj flights.

This decision follows ongoing public debate regarding religious-based meal options onboard. The controversy gained attention when Congress MP Manickam Tagore questioned the labeling of meals by religion, asking why Air India differentiated between Hindu and Muslim meals. Tagore expressed concerns about perceived religious influence on Air India’s policies and called on the Ministry of Civil Aviation to address the matter.

In Islamic tradition, halal meat is prepared through a specific process where the animal is bled out gradually, which is considered permissible under Islamic law. In contrast, jhatka is another method where the animal is slaughtered in one swift cut. This difference in meat preparation has become a focal point for discussions about meal preferences based on religious beliefs.

Air India’s latest policy change aims to address these concerns by diversifying meal options and respecting the dietary practices of its diverse passenger base. This new approach marks an effort to balance cultural and religious considerations in in-flight services.