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Air India Express takes Onam sadya to the skies for Kerala diaspora
Packed in a banana-leaf-inspired box decorated with motifs of Kasavu, Kerala’s gold-bordered textile, the meal aims to recreate the essence of the festive table.
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R Suryamurthy - Sat, 23, Aug 2025
- 11:11 EDT
- 16
The airline brings Onam onboard with a limited-edition Onasadya meal / Air India Express
The aromas of Kerala’s famed Onam Sadya will soon waft through the cabins of Air India Express flights, as the airline rolls out a festive dining experience designed to comfort the thousands of Malayalis travelling between the Gulf and their homeland during the harvest season.
Between August 24 and September 6, passengers flying on the carrier’s international routes to and from Kerala and Mangaluru will be able to pre-book a special Onam meal, transforming long-haul journeys into a celebration of tradition. The offering comes at a time when many members of the diaspora are heading home, while others remain abroad and seek a symbolic link to Kerala’s grandest festival.
A feast in the clouds
The sadya—a multi-dish vegetarian banquet that is the centrepiece of Onam—is being carefully adapted for in-flight service. Packed in a banana-leaf-inspired box decorated with motifs of Kasavu, Kerala’s gold-bordered textile, the meal aims to recreate the essence of the festive table.
On the platter will be steamed matta rice, nei parippu, avial, erissery, kootu curry, thoran, sambhar, injipuli, mango pickle, banana chips, sharkara varatti and, to round it off, the quintessential payasam. The meal, priced at 500 rupees, can be reserved through the airline’s website or mobile app up to 18 hours before departure.
“This is not just food service,” an airline official said. “It is about taking the spirit of Kerala to the skies, especially for those who may not be able to sit with their families this Onam. At 30,000 feet, a bite of payasam can feel like homecoming.”
Onam is a celebration of abundance, togetherness, and cherished traditions. At its heart lies the Sadya, a feast that brings people closer with every flavourful bite. This festive season, we’re delighted to bring the joy of Onam onboard with a limited-edition Onasadya meal from… pic.twitter.com/RxUuNmAYh7
— Air India Express (@AirIndiaX) August 23, 2025
Diaspora connections
The initiative has special resonance for the Gulf Malayali community, many of whom travel during Onam but some of whom cannot make it back to Kerala every year. For them, the airborne sadya serves as both a comfort and a reminder of home.
Air India Express, the largest operator between Kerala and the Middle East, runs more than 525 weekly flights to destinations including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Muscat, Jeddah, and Kuwait. It also links Mangaluru with Gulf hubs, routes that witness heavy festive traffic as migrant workers return for family reunions.
Cultural tribute in design
Marking the occasion beyond the dining tray, the airline has added cultural symbolism to its fleet. One of its new Boeing 737s, registered VT-BXM, now carries tail art inspired by Kasavu, turning the aircraft itself into a flying tribute to Kerala’s craft traditions. The design is part of Air India Express’s “Tales of India” initiative, which has featured more than 50 regional motifs across its fleet.
Beyond Onam
The special menu builds on the airline’s wider Gourmair programme, which offers a mix of Indian regional favourites and international fare. Regular options range from Awadhi chicken biryani and vegetable manchurian with fried rice to South Indian staples such as idlis and vadas.
But until September 6, the focus is firmly on the Onam sadya, underscoring how airlines increasingly leverage culture to connect with passengers.
Part of the Tata-owned Air India group, Air India Express operates over 500 daily flights across 41 domestic and 17 international airports. Its brand promise, “Fly As You Are,” is built on combining digital ease with cultural warmth—something that resonates deeply with Kerala’s far-flung diaspora at this festive time of year.
With the sadya now part of the journey, Onam will be celebrated not only in Kerala’s households but also on the flight paths that bind the state with the wider world.
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