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Etihad Airways Launches Christmas Menu And Introduces Props

The airline is treating passengers with classic holiday meals and has plans to celebrate the new year inflight.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is celebrating the Christmas season with new festive inflight meals available for a limited time. The airline said on Friday that its holiday menu is available on select flights worldwide.

The carrier will also ring in the New Year in a commemorative fashion inflight for the first time, offering travelers props and amenities. Etihad expects to carry over 1.5 million passengers throughout the holiday season.

Christmas dinner in the sky

The airline’s festive inflight meal options are available on several flights to the United States, UK, Canada, Lebanon, South Korea, the Philippines, Seychelles, South Africa, Australia, and most European destinations through Christmas Day, December 25th. The menu features festive classics such as turkey roulade, chestnut stuffing, and chocolate yule log with a cherry compote.

Farm-to-table meals

Etihad claims its inflight meals are locally sourced.

“A meal using salad greens harvested hours before being served to you on a plane isn’t far away,” the airline said on its website. “We’re working with both UAE (United Arab Emirates) and regional farms nearer to our destinations to create dishes using locally grown produce that taste fresher because they are fresher.”

All cabins onboard year-round, the airline offers complimentary dishes created with fresh and seasonal ingredients inspired by the destinations they serve. From a steak sandwich to ice cream, passengers are presented with many options. Children’s meals are also reportedly available if reserved at least 24 hours before the flight.

The carrier introduced its festive inflight menu in 2019 to several destinations, including Australia, Kenya, Lebanon, Manila, Seoul, Singapore, South Africa, and the US. Passengers who visited Etihad’s premium lounges at Abu Dhabi International Airport were also treated to festive food, including gingerbread houses. The airline has not confirmed whether it will provide the same offering to passengers in the lounges this year.

Celebrating the New Year mid-flight is a new element of the airline’s festive inflight itinerary. Etihad confirmed that it will be ushering 2023 in style, with all flights crossing midnight in the sky joining in the countdown to celebrate the New Year onboard. The airline will pass out customized props for passengers, offer celebratory giveaways, and serve celebratory drinks moments before midnight.

The carrier also confirmed that passengers would stay occupied during the flight with its award-winning inflight entertainment system. The E-BOX inflight entertainment hub will feature a dedicated ‘Holiday Movies’ channel, including festive classics such as Love Actually and Home Alone and themed TV programming and music for the season. Inflight wi-fi is also available, with first class or Platinum member passengers receiving complimentary access onboard. The airline offers different wi-fi packages for other passengers starting at $1.99.
Etihad’s phone call availability will also be a convenient amenity for passengers ringing in the New Year. The airline said whether it is an urgent call or simply saying goodnight, travelers can use their phones to make calls or send messages as they would on the ground. Charges will be applied directly by the traveler’s domestic mobile service provider and are similar to international roaming rates.