After Hajj pilgrims expressed their displeasure over Air India’s decision to ban Zamzam water on its narrow-body aircraft, the country’s national air carrier has apologised and put out a clarification on their Twitter handle.
Air India said, “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.”
#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
On July 4, the sales team of Air India’s Jeddah office had issued an advisory to all travel agents stating that till September 15, due to change of aircraft and limitation of seats, Zamzam cans will not be allowed on flight Nos. AI966 (Jeddah-Hyderabad-Mumbai) and AI964 (Jeddah-Cochin).
The airline’s decision did not go well with its Muslim passengers, who called for its boycott.
For decades, India had a Hajj subsidy that was basically a scheme to benefit Air India. Now that Muslims legal won the battle to end it, Air India tries to ban Zamzam cans.
They've stepped back after outrage but all self-respecting Muslims must boycott this substandard airliner. https://t.co/aw3LFtlffj
— omer (@intellectroll) July 9, 2019
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Do u want to be in business.. Curbing #Zamzam @airindia u will loose considerable business of #Hajj2019..#zamzam is d most precious luggage a haji carries home#Zamzam@MuslimMirror@MuslimVoicesIN@sureshpprabhu@TOIIndiaNews pic.twitter.com/IJ7hpBoQVL
— Yasser (@yasserdadani) July 9, 2019
Disgusting! Air India has banned carring of Zamzam water on some of its flights citing 'space limitations'!
Air India could have put a limit on the size of the zamzam water bottle but instead they choose to ban completely. Surprised! Islamphobia is on the sky! #AirIndia
— Jabir A A Choudhury (@itsmejabir) July 8, 2019
Zamzam is the name of a famous well in Makkah, which is thirty-eight cubits away from the Kaaba. During the annual Hajj which begins on August 9, millions of Muslims from around the world, including India gather in Makkah, to take part in the pilgrimage, which follows the actions of the Prophet Muhammad. Drinking the Zamzam water is one of the acts Muslims observe, during the pilgrimage, and many take the water back home for family and friends.
Makkah’s National Water Company (NWC), the main operator of the King Abdullah Project for Zamzam water supplies pilgrims with the holy water in five-litre cans, which the pilgrims take home.
