AI drops non-veg meals in economy

Vistara tweets photograph of dishes after ban, kicks off controversy

New Delhi: Passengers flying economy class with Air India on domestic routes won’t be served non-vegetarian food as the carrier wants to cut down on costs and stop wastage. “This is an attempt to rationalise costs,” Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani said.

There have been mixed reactions to Air India’s decision to serve only vegetarian food on all its domestic flights. The national carrier has put out a circular asking that non-vegetarian food not be served on domestic flights, citing that the move would reduce costs and improve catering services.

The airline had, in 2015, taken a decision not to serve non-vegetarian food on flights with travel time of less than 1.10 hours.

The National carrier Air India has decided to stop serving non-vegetarian meals to economy class passengers on domestic flights in order to cut costs. “Air India has taken a conscious decision not to have nonvegetarian meal in economy class on its domestic flights to reduce wastage and costs as well as in order to improve catering service,” the airline said in a statement.

A few fliers told this newspaper that they were disappointed with the decision. Gautam Ruparel, who frequently flies with the airline, said, “Air India is known for its variety of quality food. I am a person who flies with Air India when I go backpacking, and I am assured that I don’t have to look for extra food

after my journey. The decision to stop serving non-vegetarian food is really depressing.”

Sputhi Gowda, a Santa Cruz resident, said, “If the reason behind the move is to reduce costs, it makes no sense. Today one kilogram of chicken costs less than a kilogram of paneer. Also, how could an airline have better catering services when it is not providing the food demanded and loved by the people?”

However, Nivedita Oak, another frequent flier, said, “If Air India has taken this decision, it might have thought of something relevant that we are not able to understand. There are anyway just two airlines that offer you food unlike lowcost carriers.”

Insiders have said that non-vegetarians account for a small part of the passenger load in domestic sectors. Sources also said that sticking to vegetarian food would avoid any confusion.

Meanwhile, a controversy was kicked off hours after news of Air India discontinuing non-vegetarian food in all its domestic flights went viral when rival airlines Vistara tweeted a picture of a vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes, stating, “Vistara serves two vegetarian and non-vegetarian meal choices each in Business Class and options between vegetarian and non-vegetarian in Economy and Premium Economy class. We serve a combination of everyday favourites, regional and international specials in six meal cycles at a time.”

Vistara’s spokesperson, however, said, “The ad is simply a part of Vistara’s regular promotions and has nothing to do with Air India.”

The airline had, in 2015, taken a decision not to serve non-vegetarian food on flights with travel time of less than 1.10 hours