DUBAI- Emirates (EK), the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has introduced a festive in-flight dining experience to mark Onam, Kerala’s annual harvest celebration.
The initiative is available exclusively on flights between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and two major Kerala destinations—Cochin International Airport (COK) and Trivandrum International Airport (TRV)—from September 2 to September 6.
Photo: Clément AlloingEmirates Offering Onam Food
Passengers traveling on Emirates flights to Kochi and Trivandrum will be served a curated selection of authentic Onam dishes.
The menu includes classic starters such as sharkara upperi (jaggery-coated banana chips), kaya varuthathu (crispy banana chips), and kondattam mulaku (fried sundried chillies in yogurt).
These items are complemented by traditional dips like kaalan, pachadi, and puli inji, which are served on banana leaf dish liners to preserve cultural authenticity. The use of regional ingredients and preparation methods ensures that the flavors remain true to Kerala’s culinary heritage.
This is not the first time that Emirates has celebrated Onam this way. Last year, this harvest festival was celebrated onboard Emirates from 6 – 16 September 2024, on flights to and from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai, across all cabin classes. Then, Emirates was operating 14 weekly flights to Kochi and seven weekly flights to Thiruvananthapuram.
Photo: Clément AlloingEmirates Enhances Passenger Experience with Regional Menus
This seasonal offering reflects Emirates’ commitment to cultural inclusivity and regional passenger engagement.
By incorporating traditional Kerala cuisine into its onboard service, Emirates aims to enhance the travel experience for passengers flying to and from South India during the Onam festival period.
Emirates has tailored its in-flight menu across all cabin classes to reflect the festive spirit of Onam. The main course and desserts vary according to which cabin class you are flying on the Boeing 777-300 ER between these routes.
| Cabin Class | Main Course | Desserts |
| Economy Class | Vegetarian Sadhya-style meals | Palada Pradhaman, Parippu Payasam (garnished with roasted coconut & nuts) |
| Business & First Class | Kerala-style Chicken Curry, Chicken Stew | Palada Pradhaman, Parippu Payasam (garnished with roasted coconut & nuts) |
These sweet dishes are prepared using traditional recipes to maintain authenticity.
To complement the culinary offerings, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, features over 6,500 channels. Passengers can access 15 Malayalam-language films, regional music playlists, and Indian television programs.
Photo by EmiratesEmirates’ Commitment to Cultural Inclusion
The Onam-themed in-flight experience is part of Emirates’ broader strategy to recognize and celebrate regional festivals. By aligning its services with cultural milestones, the airline will strengthen its brand loyalty among South Indian travelers.
This initiative also reflects Emirates’ operational agility in adapting to seasonal passenger preferences. The airline has consistently demonstrated its ability to integrate cultural relevance into its service model.
Emirates also offers regionally inspired cuisine and special seasonal menus during a variety of festivals such as Chinese New Year, Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Oktoberfest, and Easter, as it hopes to create “thoughtful experiences for all global travellers“.
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