KOCHI: A few airlines operating out of Kerala airports have decided to take the Onam celebrations to the skies on the Thiruvonam day on Monday. While for some it could be just a step beyond the symbolic, others have decided to spread out a feast on flights on the occasion. Jet Airways will celebrate Onam aboard its flights between Kerala and the Gulf on September 4 offering guests a choice of the festive Sadya meal. The specially-crafted menu will be offered to all guests, flying premiere and economy, from Kerala. It will include a hot breakfast comprising of Mappas and Kallappam, as a vegetarian option. For lunch and dinner, the airline will serve the traditional vegetarian meal of Avial/ Chamba Rice and Sambar.
National carrier Air India will also serve traditional Kerala Sadya for lunch and dinner in all domestic and international flights operating out of the three Kerala airports on Monday, an AI official said. On the other hand budget carrier Air India Express will be offering only Adapradhaman (payasam) to its passengers flying in and out of Kerala airports to the Gulf airports on the day. Vistara which is a joint venture of Tata and Singapore Airlines, is offering Kerala menu from September 2 to 4 on its flights from Delhi to Kochi and Bangalore as part of its Onam celebrations.
Premier Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad have decided not to make any special festivities on the occasion. However, Emirates SkyCargo’s rose-liveried Boeing 777 ‘Rosie’ made it special carrying, flowers, bananas and banana leaves from Kerala to the Middle East during the run up to Onam. A special ‘Onapookalam’ was put together by staff at Emirates SkyCargo in Dubai to underline how the air cargo carrier helps bring a taste of home to expatriates in the region.
