APTRA calls for consistency after airline liquor ban at Delhi

Tina Milton

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The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) has called on the airline industry to unite their security practices at Delhi following a self-imposed liquor ban by some carriers

The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) has called for a more consistent approach to security measures for liquids after a number of airlines at Delhi have refused to allow passengers to carry on board any liquor purchased at Delhi International airport, regardless of their destination. APTRA said it was “bewildered” at the “self-imposed liquor ban” adopted by British Airways, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines and Air Canada. APTRA plans to contact the airlines directly in an effort to understand and highlight their “unusual stance” at Delhi.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security stipulates that all liquor must be delivered to the passenger at the gate just before boarding and more than 50 other airlines are complying with this directive.

APTRA said in a statement: “APTRA values and supports security measures and recognises effective security as an important ingredient for the sustainability of the travel-retail and duty-free industry. APTRA also believes that security measures are most effective when implemented consistently. But it appears that in Delhi, confusion exists, because this stance is not consistently applied across all international airlines departing from Delhi. It seems that Delhi is the only international Indian airport to be singled out.

“APTRA board members acknowledge that although they do not fully understand the cause of this inconsistency they feel it is unnecessary and that it perpetuates the many challenges the industry already faces. APTRA is calling for all industry stakeholders to responsibly unite and to harmonise business practices in servicing travelling consumers. The unusual stance taken by some airlines is leading to airports, retailers and vendors losing revenue, and airlines end up with extremely dissatisfied consumers.”