New Delhi: National carrier Air India has revoked a five-day-old rule barring Haj pilgrims from bringing holy Zamzam water aboard two flights from Jeddah, issuing a Twitter apology for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
#FlyAI : With reference to instructions regarding non carriage of Zamzam cans, on AI966 and AI964, we wish to clarify that passengers are allowed to carry Zamzam cans within their permissible baggage allowance.
Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience caused.
— Air India (@airindiain) July 9, 2019
Several Indian Muslims have begun to travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual Haj pilgrimage, which begins next month. On 4 July, the Air India sales team wrote in a memo to travel agents that Zamzam water will not be allowed on its narrow-body aircraft serving the routes AI966 (Jeddah/Hyderabad/Mumbai) and AI964 (Jeddah/Cochin).
The directive reportedly didn’t apply to wide-body aircraft.
According to the letter, the ban was to kick in with immediate effect and continue till 15 September, when the last batch of Haj pilgrims is scheduled to return. The reason cited was “change of aircraft” and “seat limitation”.
The decision had invited criticism from Muslims on social media, as many pilgrims carry cans of the holy water to India for themselves as well as for distribution among friends and family.
Oh where are the Khers Kumars and Tandons who yell for healthy life style, patriotism..desh la vikaas.. just one question to them is Alchohol is better or Zamzam water..what injustice National carrier of india doing?dnt u hav time to speak fr this? pic.twitter.com/1UikyiKShy
— Ijaz Ahmed (@ijaz047) July 9, 2019
This is very WORST thing that indian Airlines did, how will you stop travel zam zam if it's temporarily or permanently all indian Muslims please do not fly with air indian Airlines we have many other. pic.twitter.com/HT7Mvm8zNR
— Shaik Obaidullah Atif (@AtifObaidullah) July 9, 2019
Also read: Why Haj 2019 will see twice as many Indian women travel without male guardians
Divine water
‘Zamzam’ is the Arabic name for a well located in Mecca, which is the holiest place in Islam, and it is believed to have divine origin.
Apart from the cans they may bring with them, Haj pilgrims are given bottles of Zamzam water by the Haj Committee of India.
Air India passengers are barred from carrying any liquids on-board a flight, except a maximum quantity of 100 ml in a one-litre “clear transparent resealable” plastic bag. There are no restrictions on the amount of liquids carried in check-in baggage.
Speaking to ThePrint, Air India officials said they had to bar the carriage of Zamzam cans aboard aircraft owing to space constraints and “in-flight safety”.
It was a Pilot Drive to taste the Minorities reaction for future ban on Haj & Umrah.