Akasa Air's Braille Menu Cards: A Touch of Inclusivity

Akasa Air's Braille Menu Cards: A Touch of Inclusivity

By Author

Published on October 15, 2023

In the ever-changing world of travel, Akasa Air stands out by making inclusivity a top priority. The airline has taken a remarkable step towards enhancing accessibility for its passengers with visual impairments. Recently, they introduced Braille menu cards as part of their inflight dining service, Café Akasa. In partnership with The Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), Akasa Air designed these Braille menus to provide a seamless dining experience for all travelers.

These Braille menu cards are both thoughtful and practical. They offer a range of meal options, snacks, and beverages that passengers can easily order during their flight. By incorporating Braille, Akasa Air empowers passengers with visual impairments to independently browse and select their meal preferences, enriching their overall travel experience.

This initiative is in line with Akasa Air's ongoing commitment to creating a unified flying experience for all passengers. Earlier this year, they introduced Braille versions of their inflight safety manuals, which provide detailed safety instructions in both English and Hindi, ensuring a secure journey for travelers with visual impairments.

Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer at Akasa Air, expressed the airline's dedication to social responsibility, economic sustainability, and empathy. He emphasized how the Braille menu cards allow passengers with visual impairments to access and enjoy refreshments from Café Akasa, one of the airline's standout offerings. Akasa Air extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Taraporevala and the entire XRCVC team for their unwavering support in achieving the goal of inclusive travel.

Dr. Sam Taraporevala, Executive Director of XRCVC, shares the commitment to creating an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities. The Braille menu cards are designed with large fonts and synchronized Braille to cater to the needs of passengers with visual impairments. Dr. Taraporevala hopes that other service providers will take inspiration from Akasa Air and work towards creating inclusive and accessible solutions for customers with diverse needs.

In addition to these inclusive measures, Café Akasa, Akasa Air's inflight meal service, has recently refreshed its menu. It now boasts over 50 meal options, including healthy, festive, gourmet, and fusion choices. These meals are exclusively curated by renowned chefs from across India, providing passengers with a delightful gourmet experience during their journey.

Akasa Air, India's fastest-growing airline, has been working diligently to expand its network to offer seamless connectivity at affordable prices. They've launched new routes and increased flight frequencies from key metro and non-metro destinations. For example, with 200 weekly departures, Akasa Air connects Mumbai to 12 domestic destinations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Goa, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Kochi, and Guwahati.

This initiative by Akasa Air is a testament to their commitment to creating a warm, comfortable, and efficient flying experience for all passengers. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft used by the airline provide ample legroom and come equipped with USB ports in most aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their devices on the go. Akasa Air's enhanced Café Akasa menu, with over 60 meal options, offers an indulgent gourmet experience in the skies.

Moreover, Akasa Air understands the importance of being pet-friendly, allowing customers to travel with their pets. And to ensure the safety of all passengers, Akasa Air has introduced safety instruction cards in Braille for individuals with visual impairments.

Since its launch in August 2022, Akasa Air has rapidly grown, carrying over 3.5 million revenue passengers and operating over 900 weekly flights. Their network now covers 35 unique routes connecting 16 cities across India.

Akasa Air's commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity is commendable. With these initiatives, they're not just an airline; they're a caring and considerate companion for travelers of all backgrounds.


Celebrate World Chocolate Day at Dolci with Decadent Handcrafted Delights

Celebrate World Chocolate Day at Dolci with Decadent Handcrafted Delights

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 8, 2025

This July, immerse yourself in pure chocolate bliss as Dolci celebrates World Chocolate Day with a stunning collection of handcrafted creations designed to delight every chocolate lover. From silky truffles to indulgent cakes, each dessert showcases Dolci’s dedication to premium chocolate craftsmanship, promising an experience that’s rich, luxurious, and unforgettable.

Whether treating yourself to a moment of indulgence or sharing sweet memories with friends and family, this specially curated collection is crafted to satisfy even the most discerning chocolate connoisseurs. With a strong commitment to quality ingredients and traditional techniques, every bite at Dolci celebrates the rich heritage of fine chocolate.

At the core of each creation is the world-renowned Callebaut chocolate from Belgium, known for its exceptional quality and deep flavour profile. This premium chocolate forms the foundation of all Dolci’s chocolate offerings, ensuring each dessert delivers the authentic taste and smooth texture that true chocolate enthusiasts seek.

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Event Details:

  • Date: July 7, 2025

  • Venues: Dolci outlets at Cunningham Road, New BEL Road, and Lavelle Road, Bengaluru

Featured treats include:

  • Fresh Cream Truffle

  • Matilda Cake

  • Chocolate Noisette

  • Chocolate Praline

  • Chocolate Éclair

  • Gooey Chocolate Cake

Rich, decadent, and crafted with love — this isn’t just dessert, it’s a celebration of chocolate at its finest. Each creation is a testament to artisanal excellence, blending classic methods with a touch of contemporary flair.

Step into Dolci this World Chocolate Day and discover why for true chocolate lovers, quality always comes first.


Conrad Pune Celebrates World Chocolate Day with Bonbons, Workshops & High Tea

Conrad Pune Celebrates World Chocolate Day with Bonbons, Workshops & High Tea

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 8, 2025

This World Chocolate Day, Conrad Pune is making the city’s sweetest dreams come true with an exclusive celebration titled The Chocolate Chapter, hosted at the beloved Pune Sugar Box. From 6th to 16th July, dessert lovers can dive into a special chocolate menu featuring decadent creations like Passion Fruit Gel Bonbons, Pan Bahar Bonbons, Irish Maple bites, and indulgent Nama Chocolate, all handcrafted to perfection.

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The celebration reaches its peak on 7th July with an exclusive invite-only chocolate tasting and high tea event from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, led by award-winning pastry chef Krutika Gawas. With over 8.5 years of expertise in French patisserie and a recent win at a prestigious French pastry competition, Chef Krutika offers guests an intimate, behind-the-scenes experience into the world of chocolate making.

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The highlight includes uncovering the "Conrad Chocolate Secret" and exploring a curated chocolate tasting paired with a beautiful high tea setup. Whether you're attending the workshop or simply dropping by Pune Sugar Box for the chocolate menu, this celebration promises a sensorial journey through flavours and artistry that makes World Chocolate Day a truly memorable affair.


Chinese Wok and Big Bowl Shine with National Awards in 2025

Chinese Wok and Big Bowl Shine with National Awards in 2025

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 10, 2025

Lenexis Foodworks, a key player in India’s quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, has made a remarkable mark in 2025, with its brands Chinese Wok and Big Bowl sweeping top honours across multiple award platforms nationwide. These recognitions reflect the group’s consistent growth, operational strength, and deep connection with Indian consumers.

Chinese Wok, the company’s flagship brand, was crowned QSR Chain of the Year at the ET Great India Retail Awards, and was celebrated as a Category Disruptor in the Restaurants, QSR & Food Services segment at the ET Brand Disrupt Awards. Its innovation in digital engagement was recognized with a win at the MOMMY Awards 2025 for Best Use of AR/VR, showcasing its shift towards experiential marketing.

At the Food Connoisseurs India Awards 2025, Chinese Wok earned the title of Best Quick Service Restaurant Chain - West India. Regionally, it stood out at the Times Food & Nightlife Awards with multiple titles including:

  • Best Asian Casual Dining – Navi Mumbai and Thane

  • Best Chinese Restaurant – Thane, Navi Mumbai, Jaipur, and Noida

  • Best QSR Casual Dining – Gurgaon

On the delivery front, the Swiggy Awards 2025 recognized Chinese Wok’s popularity across several cities:

  • Best Chinese:

    • Rank 1 in Madurai, Amritsar, Mysore

    • Rank 2 in Vadodara, Mumbai, Faridabad, Kanpur

    • Rank 3 in Jalandhar, Chennai, Vijayawada, Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur

  • Best Momos – Chennai

  • Best Newcomer – Manipal

Meanwhile, Big Bowl, the cloud kitchen brand from Lenexis, won Cloud Kitchen of the Year – West India at the Food Connoisseurs India Awards, and ranked second in Best Chinese (Amritsar) at the Swiggy Awards.

These accolades come as Lenexis Foodworks pursues its vision of scaling up to 500 stores by 2027, opening 100 new outlets annually. From one outlet in 2015, the company has grown to over 235 locations in 35+ cities, positioning Chinese Wok as India’s largest Chinese QSR chain. The group is also expanding into East India with aggressive growth plans in Kolkata and neighbouring markets.

2025 also marked a year of fresh innovations. Chinese Wok launched new street-style offerings such as Kurkure Momos and Desi Chowmein, tailored to local tastes. The brand also debuted its cricket season ad campaign, blending themed visuals, contests, and special packaging.

Lenexis Foodworks continues to invest in storytelling and community efforts, from school outreach programs to revamped in-store experiences, strengthening its identity as a vibrant, home-grown brand. As it celebrates a decade of impact, the company is set to redefine Asian fast food experiences across India.

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