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Emirates Spreads Christmas Cheer with Festive Inflight Menu

The special festive inflight menu will be available on select routes throughout December, featuring a Christmas menu for passengers in every travel class

by Rachel Dube

December 7, 2023

Photo: Christmas menu. Courtesy of Emirates

Emirates is celebrating the upcoming holiday season with a festive inflight menu on select routes for the entire month of December. Passengers flying to a variety of destinations around the world will have a special onboard Christmas menu in every travel class.

The airline is continuing its special-themed menus, following its successful Thanksgiving feast that the airline served on its flights to and from the U.S. and lounges.

In addition, there will be a uniquely crafted menu for those celebrating Orthodox Christmas on flights to and from Russia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

Photo: Orthodox Christmas menu. Courtesy of Emirates

Those in economy class will be offered a moreish Christmas meal with roasted turkey or chicken roulade with chestnut stuffings, roasted potatoes with parsley, seasonal vegetables, and a dessert of fruit cake and orange sauce.

The experience in First and Business is even more abundant, beginning with Emirates’ spiced strawberry welcome drink alongside treats like panettone, Christmas pastries, candy canes, and mince pies. Those in First will also be given a miniature Santa Claus crafted from strawberries in white chocolate cream.

Photo: Christmas menu. Courtesy of Emirates

In the premium classes, passengers can indulge in Christmas classics, ranging from lemon and herb-marinated king prawns to cured salmon gravadlax with ginger, candied orange, and caviar.

For Orthodox Christmas, options include roasted duck with orange thyme jus, fondant potatoes, and steamed broccolini. Dessert will be a choice of classic Christmas pudding or traditional bread and butter pudding. In economy class, a starter of Russian potato salad will be followed by beef stroganoff or turkey roulade and a dessert of fruit cake in an orange sauce.

Drink options

Passengers traveling on the A380 flight can enjoy some delightful treats during this holiday season. First and Business class passengers can savor mulled wine or hot chocolate throughout the month. If you’re not flying First Class, you can still enjoy hot chocolate with marshmallows from December 17-26. However, mulled wine will only be available for First Class passengers during this time.

Photo: Christmas menu. Courtesy of Emirates

Additionally, from December 24 to 26, the airline will give guests mini gifts, including pistachio and raspberry profiteroles and gingerbread cookies. And while you enjoy your drink and snack, you can choose from 39 holiday season movies, all available on the airline’s award-winning entertainment system.

On-The Ground Experience

While most of these festive options will be served onboard, the airline wants the experience on the ground to be just as special and has launched holiday options in select lounges across the network. First and Business class travelers can have a Christmas dinner of roasted turkey with jus and cranberry sauce with glazed chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, and potatoes in the lounge.

Photo: Christmas menu. Courtesy of Emirates

However, things get more advanced with dessert. First Class passengers will have various winter dessert options in the lounge, ranging from mince pies to cinnamon profiteroles. Business Class passengers will have different choices in the lounge, including ginger-spiced pear, chocolate praline cake, and cranberry sorbet.

Visitors in the lounges can sip Dilmah’s Christmas iced tea or try one of Emirates’ mixology creations, Holly Jolly Christmas, Red Nosed Rudolph, and Jack Frost. At different global lounges, the Dubai-based airline will also offer local festive treats.