Emirates brings Onam flavours to Dubai flights for Kerala travellers
Traditional dishes from South India featured in festive menus
DUBAI – Emirates is celebrating the Onam harvest festival by serving traditional Kerala delicacies onboard its flights between Dubai and Kochi as well as Thiruvananthapuram.
The seasonal offering, which runs until 6th September, allows travellers to enjoy the authentic tastes of Onam while in the skies. Recognised for highlighting regional cuisines and cultural festivals, the airline has curated menus that pay homage to one of Kerala’s most important celebrations.
What’s on the menu?
Passengers across all cabin classes will be treated to a festive selection of appetisers. These include sharkara upperi – banana roasted in sweet jaggery, kaya varuthathu – crisp banana chips, and kondattam mulaku – sundried chillies fried and steeped in yoghurt. Popular dips such as kaalan made of coconut, yam and fresh yoghurt, cucumber pachadi garnished with curry leaves, and puli inji – a sweet yet tangy ginger chutney – will also feature. Travellers in First and Business Class can expect additional Kerala favourites including Kerala-style pappadam and tangy mango pickle.
The heart of the Onam experience lies in the main courses. Options include alleppey kozhi curry, spiced chicken cooked in coconut sauce and served with avial, chemba rice, and cabbage carrot thoran. Vegetarian travellers can enjoy a festive sadhya featuring sambar and kootu, paired with matta rice, carrot pea thoran, and padavalanga thoran. Other highlights include nadan kozhi kari – pan-fried chicken flavoured with coconut and spices, accompanied by steamed rice and vegetable dishes. First Class guests will also have the choice of Kerala-style chicken stew.
To complete the feast, desserts such as palada pradhaman, a creamy rice pudding with pistachios, raisins, and cashew nuts, or parippu payasam, a sweet lentil pudding topped with roasted coconut flakes, will be offered. To enhance authenticity, all meals will be served on banana leaf dish liners, bringing the festive sadhya experience to the skies.
How else is Emirates celebrating?
Beyond the culinary offerings, Emirates is enriching the Onam journey with its award-winning ice entertainment system. With more than 6,500 channels, passengers can explore over 2,000 films, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts and audiobooks. The collection includes more than 170 Indian movies, with 15 Malayalam titles such as Ponman, Pani and Anand Sreebala. Bollywood fans can enjoy the latest releases such as Stree 2, Mrs. and Tikdam, while classic Indian cinema like Johny Mera Naam also features.
Where to find Malayalam favourites?
Passengers can further immerse themselves in Malayalam culture through popular shows such as Koffee with Karan and Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley. The music library also carries 48 albums by Indian artists including AP Dhillon, Anuv Jain and Bloodywood, along with a variety of Desi mixtapes.