IndiGo said on Tuesday that it has stopped serving drinks in cans on board flights, and that passengers have the option of getting a free glass of juice or Coke with the purchase of any snack, amid an earlier parliamentary complaint that one could not buy a soft drink during the flight. .
BJP member and former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta complained that one cannot buy a soft drink on an IndiGo flight and said the airline should stop pressuring passengers with all kinds of add-ons.
Against this backdrop, an IndiGo spokesperson on Tuesday said the airline has revamped its services to provide an efficient, sustainable and affordable snacking experience.
“This initiative is in line with our Go Green commitment, saving thousands of cans from being thrown away,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson said that it had stopped serving drinks in cans.
However, the airline did not say when it stopped serving drinks in cans on flights.
“I found out mid-air on an IndiGo flight that you can’t buy a soft drink. The airline has made it compulsory to buy a snack too, regardless of whether you want it or not. This is coercion and I urge Minister @JM_Scindia to restore the principles of selection for fliers. The pressure on posts by all kinds of add-ons must stop,” he said in a post on social media platform X on Monday evening.
He also tagged Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. There was no response from the minister to this post.
According to the airline, its customers can enjoy a free drink with any snack purchased on board.
“Previously, our menu contained cashews ( $200) and coke ( $100), with a total load in $300. Our updated menu now offers anything delicious paired with a glass of juice or cola $200 (drink is free). Our onboarding service is completely optional for customers to exercise their choice.
IndiGo is the country’s largest airline with a domestic market share of over 63 per cent.