Jeddah: The outrage upon banning Zamzam by Air India on Hyderabad sector continues to rattle the Hyderabadi community in Saudi Arabia.
Telangana Jagruthi Saudi Arabian chapter President Moazzam Ali Iftekhar, condemned the sudden move of banning Zamzam temporarily, he further recalled the Banning of ZAMZAM during mid 2011, where his organisation T.G.E.F promptly intervened and leaded a team comprising several organizations from different states and approach all the authorities concerned including Ministry of Aviation, subsequently, after lengthy efforts succeeded to reinstate 10 Liters Zamzam can as Free Baggage during August 2011.
Iftekhar, pointed out that banning Zamzam even temporary is not justified, citing smaller aircraft A-320, instead of Boeing 737as SpiceJet and other airlines that using small aircraft same as Air India yet offering Zamzam as free baggage. He further said that air fares of these airlines also much lower compare to Air India.
“Airbus 320, having capacity of 180 passengers approx and we believe not all the passengers but around 50 to 70% may carry Zamzam cans of 5 Liters each Weighing 5 Kg only (not 10Kg as stated by the AI management in some newspapers) and the total weight of the Zamzam may not exceed 650kg and possibly it can be easily accommodated avoiding such hue and cry and hurting community’s sentiments, earlier we comfortably use to carry 20 Liters Zamzam can as free baggage, but gradually it reduced to 10 Liters and now 5 Liters”, Iftekhar added.
He opined that in worst case if the decision is inevitable for any reason whatsoever, instead of stating BAN on carrying zamzam, it could be more appropriate to state that ZAMZAM will temporarily be considered under the granted baggage allowance i.e. under 45Kgs (40Kg Luggage + 5Kg zamzam, Not Free ), allowing passenger’s to decide whether they opt to carry zamzam under the granted baggage allowance temporarily.