However there is still a long way to go for Airports to truly make the stay a comfortable one for the Halal conscious travellers. With these travellers beginning to represent close to 10% of the global travellers, Airports really need to start catering to this segment. It is in fact a lost business opportunity, especially if the Airport does not have Halal food outlets.

Here are ways on how Airports could not only make these travellers comfortable but also maximize the business opportunity offered by this fast growing market segment of travellers.

1. Provide some space for travellers to fulfil their religious obligations in the transit areas. The good news is that more and more Airports are beginning to have multi-denominational prayer facilities in the transit areas.
2. It will be also great if such facilities can be provided in the public areas as well. Especially for the Halal conscious visitors who come either to receive or send off someone; it is a real hassle if such facilities are not available in the public areas.
3. The biggest challenge is having ablution (wudu) friendly toilets/washrooms near the prayer facilities. Even where the Airport has prayer facilities some of them still do not really provide a Wudu friendly washroom.
4. Where this is not possible, some arrangement for dry ablution would be great, as provided in the Heathrow Airport terminal 1.
5. Halal food outlets in both the transit and public areas. Many airports fair badly when it comes to having Halal food services. This is indeed a lost opportunity for many airports and an inconvenience for many Halal conscious travellers. There is an investment opportunity for an "Airport Halal food restaurant chain" to be set up across Airports so that it is easily recognizable by the travellers as serving authentic Halal food.
6. If setting up food outlets is not feasible in some Airports, why not come up with a "Halal Food" vending Machine! Such a service will not only be useful in Airports, but even in Theme parks, shopping malls, etc where Halal food outlets are not available.

Please visit our Airports guides section to know some of the facilities offered by the Airports listed there. We encourage travellers to share with us any updated imformation to keep these up to date. Insha Allah we plan to continue to list other Airports.

Halal Friendly Travel is here to stay and will emerge as the next major Halal industry. Airports that will take the lead in making these basic needs available will stand to benefit economically while making travellers happy!