Air India allows flyers to carry Zamzam water

The carrying of Zamzam - holy water from Makkah – by Air India flights from Jeddah to Hyderabad and Cochin sectors is taking new twists.

Air India offered apology for its decision through its twitter handle and it’s office in Jeddah issued a fresh notification that stated that passengers were being allowed to carry Zamzam with them in checked in baggage in Hyderabad and Cochin sectors. Yielding to pressure of passengers, large number of them Muslims, in western region of Saudi Arabia in the last couple days, Air India through a statement issued on late Tuesday said that “40 kilogram baggage plus one 5-litre Zamzam water is allowed for economy class passengers”.

Air India western region manager R Prabhu Chandran, who is currently stationed in airport in Madinah to look after Haj flights, confirmed the news and informed that passengers are being allowed to carry Zamzam in check-in baggage with immediate effect.

However, the twist is in the total



permitted check in baggage. Air India, like other airlines operating from the region allows 45-kilogram of check in baggage, which is lesser than Saudi Arabian national carrier.

With revised decision of allowing Zamzam, Air India has categorically stated that 5 kilogram of Zamzam allowed along with 40 kilogram of baggage check-in allowance.

Thus, implies the reduction of 5 kg weight in total baggage. One hand it allowed Zamzam, other it has reduced the baggage weight for same quantity of Zamzam.

Air India along with Saudi Arabian Airlines are involved in transportation of 2 lakh Haj pilgrims from India in addition to Spicejet. The wide-bodied aircrafts that it was using in Hyderabad, Cochin route was diverted to Haj operation and replaced with narrow-bodied aircraft temporarily for Haj season, cited for restriction of carrying of Zamzam that erupted controversy.

Air India has finally rendered apology.