Cathay, Qantas and Singapore Airlines could STOP serving free alcohol on flights

Since the 1970s, airlines such as Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines, have been rolling out free alcohol to every passenger.

But now, they may find themselves having to kick the habit if there is a hike in fuel prices.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced a series of cuts on November 30.

Aviation experts believe the cuts could drive up fuel costs.

In order to survive, Mathieu De Marchi - a Bangkok-based aviation consultant - said that some Asian airlines may have to opt for charging passengers for services that usually low-cost airlines do.

For example: food, checked bagged, and alcohol - things that have been all part of the ticket price on long-haul flights for decades.

The biggest expense for airlines is fuel and this year saw a 30 per cent increase in the price.

The hike, according to Heathrow-based advisory Flight Ascend Consultancy, is enough to threaten the global aviation industry’s five year run of earnings growth.

Cathay is Asia’s biggest international airline, followed by Singapore Air and Qantas.

It recently cut excess baggage charges and raised the check-in baggage weight allowance in all classes.

Singapore Airlines confirmed that it currently has no plans to introduce additional charges.

Qantas has capped its fuel expense to A$3.2 billion up until the year ending June 2017.