Major Airlines that Don't Serve Alcohol

If you ever questioned which airlines serve alcohol on board, the answer would be that nearly all major airlines serve something alcoholic. After all, serving alcohol makes money and helps customers relax! On some routes airlines even give free alcohol to their business or economy class.

But I was curious to know which major airlines that don’t serve alcohol. What I found, I guess unsurprisingly, was the airlines that don’t serve alcohol all originate from predominantly Islamic nations. Take a look at these major airlines and some of their other unique rules that may surprise you (further digging, it seems that the law on paper isn’t always what’s happening, keep that in mind).

Saudi Arabian Airlines

Due to Islamic Laws, any flights to and from Saudi Arabia do not serve alcohol. Saudi Arabia takes it a step further and doesn’t serve any alcohol all across its flights nor can you bring alcohol on board. According to the Saudi Arabian Airlines website, “Alcohol is especially harmful to proper hydration-not a problem as this is not served on board.”

Perhaps not having alcohol is the least of your worries. Apparently Saudi also has a policy of confiscating “Bibles, crucifixes, Stars of David and other non-Muslim appurtenances from their passengers.”

Pakistan International Airlines

Like Saudi Arabian Airlines, Pakistan Airlines also doesn’t serve any alcohol or pork due to religious law. However, it wasn’t always this way. Pakistan Airlines only stopped serving alcoholic drinks in the 70’s when all alcohol was banned in Pakistan.

Kuwait Airways

Kuwait Airways is also the national carrier for a dry country and therefore no Kuwait Airways flights serve alcohol to any of their destinations. People also can’t bring any alcohol on board, as well as, have any alcohol while transiting through Kuwait City.

Alcohol is the least of worries as Kuwait Airways has repeatedly given a poor rating. However, they do often offer cheaper flights than most competitors so that may persuade you to take them.

Royal Brunei Airlines

Royal Brunei is unique for this type of list as the airline does not serve alcohol but people who bring their own alcohol and ask it to be served, can drink. However, if you land in the country of Brunei the alcohol will be taken from you so plan accordingly.

EgyptAir

Also an airline from an Islamic country, EgyptAir forbids any consumption of alcohol on their flights but does let people transport alcohol, although you can’t drink your own alcohol on board (disputed below in comments). Interestingly though, alcohol is found everywhere in Egypt so I’m not sure why it is forbidden on their national carrier?

Iran Air

Because Iran Air is the national carrier for Iran, an Islamic nation, alcohol is not served on any of their flights. Also, if you’re a woman and flying to Iran you will need to cover your head, but men don’t need to do anything special. Iran Air is also not known for being an on-time airline, so perhaps don’t count on any connections.

Gulf Air and Bahrain Air?

Bahrain was always the liberal country in the Arab region that did serve alcohol on their flights. It was an attractive option for many Saudis to connect in Bahrain so they could get served some alcohol on long flights. But just in 2014, Bahrain was reported to stop serving alcohol on its flights and at its airport (edit: further digging, I found that Gulf Air is still serving alcohol, look in comments).