Carrying Water Bottles
Full bottles banned at security; empty bottles allowed and can be refilled post-screening.
Bring an empty bottle through security, then refill it at airport fountains or kiosks. Full bottles over 100ml are confiscated, while medicinal/infant water is allowed if declared.
When allowed vs. when not
✅ When it's allowed
- •Carry stainless or BPA-free bottles with leak-proof lids.
- •Use collapsible bottles if packing space is tight.
- •Sanitise the mouthpiece before refilling to avoid airport germs.
🚫 When it's NOT allowed
- •Don’t hide water inside opaque thermos flasks—officers will open them anyway.
- •Don’t rely solely on airline service; delays happen.
- •Avoid placing bottles near laptops in trays; they can roll off and crack screens.
Airline-specific guidance
Air India
Liquids, aerosols and gels (including water) must each be in a container of 100ml or less — a container over 100ml is not accepted at security even if it holds less water than that.
- •Medicines with a valid prescription, inhalers, and baby food are treated as exceptions to this limit.
IndiGo
Liquids in hand baggage must be in containers with a maximum volume of 100ml each, and all such containers must fit comfortably inside one transparent, re-sealable 1-litre bag.
Airport-specific guidance
Delhi (DEL) — Indira Gandhi International Airport
Free drinking water fountains are available at various locations inside the terminal building.
Packaged water is also sold at Maximum Retail Price (MRP) through vending machines and food outlets.
Mumbai (BOM) — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
Water bottle refill stations are available at Terminal 2.
Drinking water can also be purchased from vending machines located across the terminal.
Domestic vs. international
Domestic flights
No official distinction was found. Air India's and IndiGo's own baggage pages state the 100ml-per-container liquids rule without carving out a separate, looser limit for domestic departures.
International flights
No official distinction was found. The same 100ml-per-container rule applies at international departures too — neither airline's official page states a stricter or different limit specifically for international flights.
Water safety
No official statement from Delhi (DIAL) or Mumbai (CSMIA) airport operators was found confirming that refill-station or terminal tap water is safe to drink. This page does not assert water quality either way. If you're unsure, use the packaged bottled water sold at airport vending machines and food outlets instead (see Airport Guidance above).
- •Mumbai Airport's own official complaints portal has a logged, unresolved passenger complaint (10 June 2024) describing a chlorine/bleaching-powder smell in the international terminal's drinking-water taps, with no documented official response.
- •No equivalent complaint or statement — positive or negative — was found for Delhi (DEL).
- •Sealed, packaged bottled water sold at airport vending machines and food outlets is a separately regulated product and isn't covered by this uncertainty.
Security process
- 1Your cabin baggage, including any water bottle, goes through X-ray screening before you're allowed to board — confirmed on Air India's own passenger guidance.
- 2Any liquid you're carrying, including water, must be in a container of 100ml or less; a container over 100ml is not accepted even if it holds less liquid than that (Air India, IndiGo).
- 3All permitted liquid containers (100ml or less) must fit inside one transparent, re-sealable bag of up to 1 litre (IndiGo).
- 4Neither airline's official guidance describes checkpoint-level detail beyond this — for example, tray placement order or whether a bottle is screened separately from other items. That level of procedural detail wasn't found in an official source, so it isn't included here.
Water scenarios
| Situation | Allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Empty bottle | ✅ | Place separately on tray |
| Full bottle | ❌ | Empty or surrender |
| Baby formula water | ✅ Declare | Officers may test |
Frequently asked questions
Are folding hydration bladders allowed?+
Can I carry carbonated beverages bought before security?+
Do airports supply hot water?+
Related guides
Related rules
Perfume / Deodorant
Cabin limit 100ml per bottle inside a 1L clear bag. Larger bottles go in checked baggage.
Sanitizer allowance
Cabin limit 100ml per container, same as any other liquid — the 350ml pandemic-era allowance ended. Checked baggage allows larger bottles if sealed.
Shampoo & lotions
Treat as liquids/gels. Cabin limit 100ml per container inside the 1L bag.
Makeup kit
Liquid or gel-based makeup counts toward the 100ml rule; compact powders are exempt.
Nail polish/remover
Allowed in cabin up to 100ml and in checked bags up to 0.5L per container.
Liquid bottles >100ml
Liquids above 100ml per container are banned from cabin unless exempt (baby food/medicines).
Official references
DGCA guidelines — simplified
Verified on: 6 Dec 2025
Disclaimer: Aviation and security rules change frequently. Always confirm with your airline, airport help desk, or CISF officers before you travel.