“The decision to cut down alcohol onboard is to help flyers stay healthy,” said NAC Spokesperson Ram Hari Sharma. “Although, it will not significantly contribute to reducing costs, the decision was necessary to change the tradition of offering alcoholic drinks on flights.”

According to NAC, some health-related problems among passengers were also reported after drinking alcohol while flying at high altitudes. The carrier had a year ago stopped offering liquor on the Doha and Kuala Lumpur sectors during night flights. “Now, liquor is banned on every sector on every flight,” he said. NAC said nobody would notice such a small reduction in cost, but it could save a huge amount if calculated. For an instance, in the 1980s, Robert Crandall, then head of the American Airline, cleverly calculated that if just one olive is removed from every salad served to passengers, nobody would notice, and the airline would save $100,000 a year.

Presently, NAC connects Doha, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok — the sectors on which more flyers prefer alcohol. Some NAC officials said free and unlimited liquor was one of the major strategies of NAC to attract travellers and that the latest decision could upset loyal flyers. The corporation recently cancelled a tender for procuring beer.

The NAC, which operates two Boeing 757 aircraft, has confirmed order for two Airbus A320-200 planes for its international fleet. The carrier also plans to induct two Chinese-made Modern Ark 60 and four Y12e aircraft in its domestic fleet.