Do some airlines fail to carry enough bottled or distilled water for economy passengers?

Do some airlines fail to carry enough bottled or distilled water for economy passengers? - Faceless slim female athlete in sportswear standing with blue fitness mat and water bottle while preparing for indoors workout

My company booked me on a Cathay Pacific flight. My colleague warned me that in June 2015

An investigation has been launched after drinking water on board 14 Cathay Pacific aircraft – around 10 per cent of its entire fleet – was found to be tainted.

Hong Kong’s Port Health Office (PHO) collected samples from 22 planes, as part of a routine examination, earlier this month. Tests found that 14 of the samples failed to meet minimum hygiene standards.

According to the airline, nine of the 14 affected aircraft have had their water tanks cleaned and disinfected, and the results of follow-up tests are pending. Tanks on the five other affected jets will be cleaned imminently. Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co, which transports water from supply stations to the aircraft, has cleaned all of its 11 vehicles.

In the meantime Cathay Pacific is urging passengers not to brush their teeth in the plane lavatories and is handing out bottled water to everyone on board.

Cathay is providing bottled water for use on the affected planes and has sterilised nine of those jets' water tanks after samples of drinking water taken from them failed to meet hygiene standards in a recent test, the statement released last night said. The remaining five jets are due back in the city before tomorrow, and will be cleaned on their return.

When she flew with Cathay after this news story, she still distrusted Cathay's water. When she tried to request bottled water, Flight Attendant said that they don't have enough bottled water for all economy passengers, and that they are allowed to give out bottle water only to passengers with medical conditions. My colleague escalated to the Purser and In Flight Service Manager, and they all repeated this same position.

Can flight crew here confirm or deny this?






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Can airlines refuse water?

In the US, planes are required to provide food and water for all passengers only if there is a significant flight delay on the tarmac; otherwise, complimentary water is not a requirement.

Do airlines provide water?

Airlines are required to provide safe drinking water for passengers and crew because of the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, a federal government policy which dates back to 2011. The airlines were given "water health scores" ranging from a 5 (the highest score) to a 0 (the lowest).

Where does water come from on a plane?

The water onboard planes comes from the municipal systems where the aircraft is parked, "which is the same water source used throughout the airport, including for water fountains and restaurants, and delivered to homes, businesses and local communities each and every day," Airlines for America, a U.S. trade group that ...



New video shows allegedly intoxicated pilot trying to board plane l ABC News




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Karolina Grabowska, Josh Willink, Pixabay, RF._.studio