Mumbai: Air India, now under Tata Group ownership, has revised its in-flight menu nomenclature, replacing the term ‘Muslim Meal’ with ‘Special Meal’. This change is reportedly meant to enable the airline’s broader service standardisation in light of its merger with Vistara. Passengers can still pre-book Halal-certified meals, labelled as Special Meals (SPML). The rebranding is supposedly aimed at reducing religious labels on meals.
However, critics point out that the Air India management has acceded to the campaign against displaying halal in India which was spearheaded by the Hindutva brigade and gained momentum in recent years. The anti-halal lobby argued that the halal certification process, which is rooted in Islamic dietary laws, excludes non-Muslims and promotes a form of segregation in the marketplace. They called for the removal of halal labels from food products, asserting that consumers should have the right to choose products based on their dietary preferences without religious affiliations.
Air India’s recent internal circular confirmed that Halal-certified meals will remain available on specific routes. Halal meals will continue to be served, complete with certification on flights to destinations such as Saudi Arabia and during Haj pilgrimages. This step is expected to enhance service delivery, particularly on flights to the Middle East, where religious meal standards are vital.
The owners of India’s former national carrier said these adjustments are part of Air India’s strategy to streamline operations.
