IANS

THIRUVANANTHAPURA, Aug 26: Three international airlines flying from Kerala will celebrate the Onam festival by offering a traditional feast to their passengers.

Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Air India Express will have a festive Onam menu September 4-6. The harvest festival falls this year on September 5.

Qatar Airways was the first to announce its culinary plans. Their manager K. Jayaprakash said the Onam lunch would be served on their flights departing from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

The traditional Onam sadya consists of 27 dishes, all of which are vegetarian, followed by mouth-watering payasam.

"Taking into account the difficulty of serving the entire complement of curries served during Onam, we have tried to have as many curries as possible and payasam. It will be served on a plantain leaf placed on a tray," Jayaprakash said.

Oman Air, which has been celebrating the Kerala festival for a few years, has printed special menu cards for flights to and from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

"Attractive menu cards, specially printed for this occasion, will also be distributed to the passengers. This popular festival of Kerala, celebrated by Oman Air for several years on board its flights, has been evoking great enthusiasm amongst the passengers," said M.A. Althaf, chief of Oman Air.

Air India chief H. Munaf said the decision to serve a special Onam lunch has been limited to Air India Express flights only.

"It would be served on all Air India Express flights from all the three airports in Kerala. As for all Air India flights, the decision is still awaited," said Munaf.

Passengers travelling by Kuwait Airways and Gulf Air may not be lucky to get Onam meals.

"Our food requirements are sourced from Kuwait and hence we will not be offering the traditional Onam sadya," said Oommen Mathew, head of Kuwait Airways.