Emirates is marking the annual Kerala harvest festival of Onam with authentic festive dishes onboard flights between Dubai and two of the state’s busiest gateways – Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram – until 6 September.
Renowned for menus inspired by diverse cultural celebrations, the airline is serving traditional Onam favourites across all cabin classes, offering a taste of home to travellers from Kerala as well as an introduction to the festival for others.
Traditional flavours in the air
Passengers in Economy Class will be welcomed with appetisers that set the tone of the celebrations. The offerings include sharkara upperi – banana roasted in jaggery, kaya varuthathu – crisp banana chips, and kondattam mulaku – fried sundried chillies steeped in yoghurt.
To accompany these, a selection of dips central to the Onam feast will be presented. They include kaalan, prepared with coconut, yam and yoghurt; cucumber pachadi, a seasoned yoghurt-based salad; and puli inji, a tangy ginger chutney that balances sweet and sour notes.
In First and Business Class, travellers will enjoy additional accompaniments such as Kerala-style pappadam and traditional mango pickle, enhancing the authenticity of the festive experience.
Festive mains and desserts
The heart of the menu is a choice of main dishes reflecting the richness of Kerala cuisine. Options include alleppey kozhi curry, a chicken dish simmered in coconut sauce, paired with avial, chemba rice and cabbage carrot thoran. For vegetarians, a traditional sadhya selection is offered, with sambar and kootu served alongside matta rice and carrot pea thoran.
Other highlights include nadan kozhi kari, pan-fried chicken flavoured with coconut and spices, served with steamed rice and vegetables, as well as padavalanga thoran with erissery and bean thoran. First Class passengers are also being treated to Kerala-style chicken stew.
No Onam meal is complete without dessert, and Emirates has included palada pradhaman, a creamy rice pudding with pistachios, raisins and cashews, alongside parippu payasam, a sweet lentil pudding garnished with roasted coconut flakes. Meals are presented on banana leaf dish liners to replicate the traditional serving style of an Onam sadhya.
Entertainment alongside celebration
Beyond the dining experience, Emirates has also curated an entertainment selection for Onam. Passengers can enjoy over 6,500 channels on the airline’s award-winning ice system, including more than 170 Indian films and 15 Malayalam titles such as Ponman, Pani and Anand Sreebala. Bollywood hits like Stree 2 and Mrs. also feature, along with timeless classics.
Music lovers have access to up to 48 albums from Indian artists including AP Dhillon, Anuv Jain and Bloodywood, alongside Desi mixtapes. Popular shows such as Koffee with Karan and Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley round out the offerings.
Connecting tradition with travel
By bringing Onam celebrations to the skies, Emirates is reinforcing its reputation for catering to diverse cultural festivities. The initiative allows passengers to experience Kerala’s harvest traditions thousands of feet above ground, blending regional heritage with global travel.
The airline’s Onam menus are available until 6 September on select flights between Dubai, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
