As global air travel continues to connect people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, airlines are increasingly tailoring their onboard experiences to meet the unique preferences and values of their passengers. Among the most notable trends is the rise of alcohol-free cabins—flights where no alcoholic beverages are served or permitted, regardless of route or class.

This approach is especially prominent among airlines based in Muslim-majority countries, where religious and cultural norms play a significant role in shaping service standards. By offering alcohol-free environments, these carriers ensure that passengers who choose or require a dry travel experience can do so comfortably and confidently, without compromising on comfort or quality.

In this guide, we explore the world’s leading airlines with alcohol-free cabins, highlighting their distinctive policies, operational practices, and the broader impact this trend is having on the aviation industry.

1. Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) – Saudi Arabia

Saudia is the national carrier of Saudi Arabia and operates one of the most stringent alcohol-free policies in the world. Alcohol is neither served nor allowed to be brought or consumed onboard any flight, domestic or international. This strict approach reflects Saudi Arabia’s adherence to Islamic law, which prohibits alcohol consumption.

Saudia’s headquarters in Jeddah serve as a major hub for millions of religious pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina each year, ensuring their spiritual needs are met throughout their journey. Passengers are offered a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages, including traditional cardamom-infused coffee and juices, to ensure comfort and satisfaction.

2. Air Arabia – United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)

Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, is the Middle East’s first low-cost carrier and maintains a strict alcohol-free policy. Sharjah is known for its conservative social policies, and Air Arabia’s approach aligns with these values. The airline operates an extensive network across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, always maintaining its dry cabin standards regardless of destination. Air Arabia demonstrates that low-cost carriers can successfully integrate cultural considerations without sacrificing operational efficiency or passenger satisfaction.

3. Kuwait Airways – Kuwait

Kuwait Airways enforces a comprehensive alcohol ban that extends beyond onboard service. Passengers are prohibited from carrying or consuming alcohol even during layovers or connecting flights through Kuwait International Airport. This policy ensures a seamless alcohol-free experience for all travelers using Kuwait as a hub. The airline’s approach is rooted in Kuwait’s constitutional incorporation of Islamic law as a primary source of legislation.

4. Jazeera Airways – Kuwait

Jazeera Airways, Kuwait’s second major airline and a prominent low-cost carrier, mirrors the alcohol restrictions of Kuwait Airways. Despite its budget model, Jazeera Airways maintains strict policies against alcohol service and generally discourages passengers from bringing alcohol onboard. The airline has built its reputation on affordable travel while respecting the conservative values prevalent throughout the region. Some sources note that while alcohol may be permitted in checked baggage, it is not allowed for consumption during the flight.

5. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) – Pakistan

Pakistan’s flag carrier, PIA, has maintained a comprehensive alcohol ban since the 1970s. This policy covers all sources of alcohol, including duty-free purchases and personal supplies. The airline’s approach reflects Pakistan’s status as an Islamic republic and its strict legal and social restrictions on alcohol consumption. PIA’s headquarters in Karachi serve as a central hub for both domestic and international flights, ensuring a consistent alcohol-free environment for all passengers.

6. EgyptAir – Egypt

EgyptAir, Egypt’s state-owned carrier, maintains alcohol-free policies across its entire fleet and route network. Despite Egypt’s relatively liberal approach to alcohol regulation compared to some regional neighbors, the national airline chooses to maintain conservative standards to accommodate the religious preferences of its predominantly Muslim passenger base. EgyptAir serves routes throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, ensuring a dry cabin experience for all travelers.

7. Airblue – Pakistan

Airblue, Pakistan’s largest private airline, upholds the same strict no-alcohol policies as PIA. The airline’s dry cabin policy applies to all flights, including those to international destinations. Airblue has established itself as a reliable domestic and regional carrier, serving routes throughout Pakistan and extending to the Middle East. Its approach demonstrates that private operators in conservative markets often adopt similar cultural standards as state carriers.

8. Iraqi Airways – Iraq

Iraqi Airways, Iraq’s national carrier, is officially dry and does not serve alcohol onboard. While Baghdad Airport has recently introduced duty-free shops selling alcohol, passengers are only allowed to take sealed bottles onboard—not to open or consume them during the flight. The airline’s policy reflects Iraq’s efforts to maintain cultural and religious standards as it rebuilds its aviation sector.

9. Royal Brunei Airlines – Brunei

Royal Brunei Airlines, the national carrier of Brunei, does not serve alcohol onboard in line with the country’s strict Islamic governance. Non-Muslim passengers may be permitted to bring their own alcohol, but consumption during the flight is generally not allowed without explicit approval from the cabin crew. The airline’s policy demonstrates a balance between religious principles and international aviation standards.

10. Biman Bangladesh Airlines – Bangladesh

Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Bangladesh’s flag carrier, maintains an alcohol-free environment across its entire route network. The airline’s policy reflects the country’s predominantly Muslim population and cultural preferences, ensuring that Bangladeshi travelers can access international destinations while maintaining familiar standards throughout their journey.

Additional Notable Mentions

• Riyadh Air (Saudi Arabia, launching soon): The upcoming second flag-carrier of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air, will also be strictly dry for religious reasons. No alcohol will be served or permitted onboard, even in premium cabins, unless Saudi law changes in the future.
• Ariana Afghan Airlines (Afghanistan): Flies out of Kabul with a strict no-alcohol policy, as alcohol is not available for purchase in Afghanistan and is not permitted onboard.
• Iran Aseman Airlines and Mahan Air (Iran): Both operate with a strict no-alcohol policy, in line with Iran’s traditional culture and legal restrictions.
• Flynas, Flyadeal, and Nesma Airlines (Saudi Arabia): All Saudi-based low-cost carriers also prohibit alcohol onboard, reflecting the country’s legal framework.

Other Insights and Trends

• Non-Alcoholic Beverage Innovation: As the global demand for non-alcoholic beverages grows, airlines with alcohol-free cabins are expanding their offerings to include premium mocktails, zero-percent beers, and specialty coffees and teas.
• Cultural and Religious Sensitivity: These airlines prioritize religious and cultural considerations, ensuring that passengers from conservative backgrounds feel comfortable and respected during their travels.
• Operational Consistency: Despite operating in diverse markets, these carriers maintain consistent alcohol-free policies across all routes and aircraft, demonstrating that such standards do not compromise operational efficiency or passenger satisfaction.
• Impact on Passenger Behavior: Alcohol-free cabins can reduce the risk of disruptive incidents onboard, as overconsumption of alcohol is a contributing factor to unruly passenger behavior.

Summary Table

These airlines exemplify how cultural, religious, and legal considerations shape aviation policies, offering millions of travelers a consistent and alcohol-free flying experience, while also embracing innovation in non-alcoholic beverage service.

Emirates Flight Catering has embarked on a landmark expansion with the ground-breaking of a new Dh160 million laundry facility under its Linencraft brand at Dubai Investment Park, creating 400 direct jobs and boosting its operational capacity by over 50 percent. This strategic investment addresses the surging demand in the UAE’s hospitality, aviation, and healthcare sectors amid rapid sector growth and infrastructure developments.

The new facility will add 150 tons daily to Linencraft’s current processing ability of 280 tons across four locations. It features two advanced modular hospitality bulk laundry units with a combined capacity of 142 tons per day, plus a dedicated garment plant that can handle over 28,000 pieces daily. This high-tech setup incorporates next-generation automation to enhance efficiency, reduce manual labor, and ensure resilience with built-in redundancies to maintain uninterrupted operations even at peak times.

 Energy-efficient systems are integrated to minimize environmental impact, reflecting a sharp focus on sustainability.

Shahreyar Nawabi, CEO of Emirates Flight Catering, emphasized the boldness of this move, stating, “This investment reflects both the scale of opportunity we see in the market and our determination to lead the industry forward. With this advanced facility, we’re not just increasing capacity we’re setting new standards through smart technology and sustainability.” The expansion is timely, as more than 10,000 new hotel rooms are expected in the UAE by 2027 alongside the upcoming major international events and Dubai Airport’s ongoing expansions, all driving a steep rise in demand for large-scale laundry services including staff uniforms and institutional laundry needs.

Linencraft currently serves over 100 clients across airlines, hospitality, healthcare, and corporate sectors, employing around 1,300 people. The new facility solidifies its position as the UAE’s largest and most trusted commercial laundry provider, capable of onboarding 40 additional hospitality clients with this capacity boost.
The project is led by UAE-based general contractor ASIA Prime, which is committed to delivering quality and operational excellence throughout the construction process.

This expansion complements broader Emirates Group initiatives, which recently unveiled a global talent drive to recruit 17,300 employees across Emirates and dnata, further underscoring the Group’s growth and commitment to meeting future demand in aviation and related services.

By scaling up climate-conscious operations and leveraging smart technologies, Emirates Flight Catering’s new Linencraft facility is poised to support the country’s booming service industries with efficiency, reliability, and sustainability well into the future.

IndiGo Airlines, India’s largest low-cost carrier, has aggressively expanded its cockpit workforce by recruiting over 1,000 pilots in the past two years, bringing its total pilot strength to 5,456 by the end of FY25. This milestone surpasses the combined pilot count of Air India and Air India Express, which stands at 5,449, underscoring IndiGo’s dominant position in the Indian aviation sector.

This rapid increase in pilot numbers coincides with IndiGo’s substantial fleet growth, currently operating 434 aircraft, with over 920 more on order, including long-range Airbus A321XLRs and A350s to support its international ambitions. The accelerated hiring is a strategic move to maintain operational reliability in the face of soaring passenger demand and an industry-wide shortage of pilots. It also differentiates IndiGo from competitors like Akasa Air, which faced pilot resignations and flight cancellations in late 2024.

India’s aviation market is witnessing unprecedented growth, with domestic air travel rising to 165 million passengers in FY25 a 17% increase over pre-pandemic levels and international travel up 49% to 34 million. Responding to this surge, IndiGo has also strengthened its cabin crew roster to over 10,212 personnel.

IndiGo is leading industry efforts in gender diversity, with women constituting 16% of its pilot workforce approximately three times the global average and aiming to reach 1,000 female pilots by 2025. The commitment to inclusivity was highlighted when the airline onboarded 77 female pilots on India’s 77th Independence Day.

Financially, IndiGo posted a profit after tax of ₹7,258 crore for FY25, marking its second consecutive year of profitability, in contrast to losses reported by other carriers such as Air India and Akasa Air.
Despite a 17% decrease in the issuance of Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) in 2024, government data indicates there is currently no shortage of trained pilots in India, though the demand forecast is significant, with an estimated need for 21,500 pilots by 2034. IndiGo’s proactive recruitment and diversity initiatives position it well to meet the challenges of India’s rapidly expanding aviation market.

On 22 July 2025, Dubai, UAE, the Emirates Group launched an extensive global talent acquisition campaign aimed at recruiting 17,300 professionals during the current financial year. This hiring goal is symbolic, matching the population size of a mid-size town or the seating capacity of 58 Airbus A350 aircraft. The recruitment drive is part of the Group’s ongoing expansion strategy, reinforcing its industry-leading position.

The available opportunities span across 350 different roles across Emirates and dnata, the two flagship businesses under the Group. Emirates, recognized as the world’s most profitable and largest international airline, along with dnata, a global leader in air and travel services, are looking to fill positions that include cabin crew, pilots, engineers, commercial and sales teams, customer service, ground handling, catering, IT, human resources, and finance. Notably, dnata alone seeks over 4,000 specialists in cargo, catering, and ground handling operations.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, emphasized that this ambitious recruitment is aligned with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and the Group’s growth trajectory. He expressed that the goal is to attract world-class talent capable of driving innovation, excellence, and the future transformation of the aviation industry. He views this initiative as an opportunity for skilled professionals to become integral to the Group’s ongoing success and expansion.

To reach potential candidates globally, the Emirates Group will hold over 2,100 open days and various talent acquisition events across 150 cities throughout the year. These events will provide a chance for prospective pilots, IT professionals, engineers, and cabin crew members to engage directly with recruitment teams and long-serving Emirates employees sharing their experiences. In addition to international outreach, Dubai-based events will focus on involving UAE national students and graduates, supporting national workforce development.

Since 2022, the Emirates Group has recruited more than 41,000 professionals, with nearly 27,000 in operational roles, contributing to the current workforce size of approximately 121,000 employees. The Group continues to be a magnet for talent around the world due to its strong brand reputation, people-centric policies, tax-free remuneration, comprehensive benefits, and esteemed training and career development programs.

In the past financial year alone, the Group received in excess of 3.7 million job applications, illustrating its global appeal. Candidates are drawn to Dubai not only for professional opportunities but also for the city’s safety, economic stability, advanced technological infrastructure, forward-looking policies, and vibrant lifestyle.

For those residing in Dubai and working for the Emirates Group, benefits are extensive, including eligibility for profit sharing, comprehensive medical and life insurance coverage, a wide array of travel benefits encompassing annual and service-related leave tickets, concessional rates for family and friends, discounted cargo rates, and membership privileges unlocking reductions at hundreds of retail, hospitality, and lifestyle destinations.

Candidates interested in joining the Emirates Group can explore available positions and upcoming recruitment events worldwide by visiting the Group’s official careers portal. This recruitment drive showcases the Emirates Group’s unwavering commitment to growth, innovation, and maintaining its status as a global employer of choice, while welcoming talented professionals prepared to contribute to shaping the future of aviation.