A major airline may have to ban all in-flight alcohol (yes, really)

Most airlines take great pride in the alcohol they serve their passengers through partnerships with local producers, as well as the rare premium spirits offered in business and first class.

But one Asian flag carrier could end up having to take the radical step of banning all in-flight alcohol under pressure from religious lawmakers.

Flying from the country since 1947 and among the 30 largest airlines in Asia by passengers carried, Malaysia Airlines offers an extensive wine and spirits list both on international flights and in its airport lounges.

Increasingly, however, it has faced growing pressure to follow the lead of airlines from Muslim-majority countries such as Saudia, Kuwait Airways, and Air Arabia in not serving any alcohol at all.

During a parliamentary budget meeting earlier in October, an MP from the far-right islamist political party Perikatan Nasional (PN) called out the airline for a situation in which Muslim flight attendants could be forced to serve alcohol to guests against their Islamic religious beliefs.

Politicians from the even more fundamentalist Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) have filed an official proposal that would require Malaysia Airlines to swap any wine, beer, or champagne with traditional Malaysian drinks such as sirap bandung.

Malaysia Airlines faces pressure from far-right politicians to ban alcohol

While the proposal has not moved forward beyond being raised in parliament, the increasing discussion around getting rid of alcohol has raised the alarm of tourism groups, which say that a full ban will drive away tourism and portray Malaysia as a radical country to Western tourists.

"This is not a religious issue," Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Wong Soon Koh said to a local outlet. "It’s about Malaysia’s economy and survival. Malaysia Airlines is still struggling to recover, and now the Hulu Selangor MP is adding salt to the wound."

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Koh said further that Malaysia Airlines does "not only earn from Malaysia – it earns from travelers around the world from every religion and background."

"Malaysia is known as a moderate tourism country"

Amid efforts to bring in more international tourists through campaigns like Visit Malaysia 2026, the Malaysian government reported a 20% increase in international arrivals between January and May 2025, with larger increases predicted once the number for the rest of the year is calculated.

Earlier this month, Malaysia Airlines also added new flights or expanded frequencies to countries such as Australia, New Zealand, India(BHARAT), and China.

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No international airlines currently offer direct flights between Malaysia and the United States, but the country is becoming an increasingly popular destination for American travelers looking to see new destinations after already visiting places such as Japan, Thailand, and Singapore.

A number of tourist groups spoke out over what they see as a sudden ban's potential to reverse this trend.

"Malaysia is known as a moderate tourism country," Nigel Wong, who heads the local Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, said to local outlet VNExpress on the alcohol ban discussions. "We emphasize values like tolerance, acceptance, and inclusiveness. That's what makes Malaysia so appealing as a tourism destination."

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