Emirates Unwraps Christmas Magic in the Skies This December

Emirates Unwraps Christmas Magic in the Skies This December

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 10, 2025

Emirates is adding festive cheer to every part of the travel experience this December, inviting passengers to enjoy the warmth and joy of Christmas from the moment they begin their journey. With more than 2.3 million departures and 2.5 million arrivals expected in the coming weekends, customers flying with Emirates can look forward to winter-themed menus, special treats, and holiday entertainment.

Throughout the month, the airline is serving festive flavours in all classes. From 17 to 26 December, customers can enjoy aromatic hot chocolate across all cabins. Between 24 and 26 December, travellers departing Dubai will receive seasonal treats, including dark chocolate truffles in Economy Class, homemade gingerbread cookies in Premium Economy and Business Class, and a raspberry Paris-Brest pastry in First Class.

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In First, Business, and Premium Economy Class, festive dining begins with dishes like salmon gravadlax marinated in beetroot and orange, pickled herring with potato and quail egg salad, or smoked salmon topped with crab mayonnaise and salmon roe. Main courses include classic turkey with jus, chestnut and turkey bacon stuffing, truffle potato gratin, caramelised chestnuts, and roasted brussels sprouts. Select routes will also offer dishes such as herb-crusted lamb shank, duck confit glazed in cranberry jus lié, and seared venison with sage butter and blackberry sauce. Desserts continue the celebrations, with First Class guests receiving an edible Santa made from fresh strawberries and cream.

Economy Class passengers will enjoy roasted turkey with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, maple-roasted parsnips, and desserts like orange-soaked fruit cake or a mini mousse cake decorated with one of Santa’s reindeer.

At the A380 Onboard Lounge, the festivities continue with sweet treats such as mince pies, stollen, panettone, festive macarons, ginger profiteroles, dark chocolate ganache, cranberry financier, hazelnut and cranberry jars, biscotti, and candy canes. Guests can also enjoy a hearty Christmas sandwich filled with turkey, roast beef, cheddar, cranberry sauce, and chilli tomato relish. Seasonal selfie props are available for passengers to capture festive moments.

From 15 to 31 December, Emirates’ First and Business Class lounges in Dubai transform into festive culinary spaces offering traditional roasted turkey with jus and cranberry sauce, glazed chestnuts, vegetables, and new potatoes. Guests can enjoy festive cocktails like the Emirates Cognac Crème Panettone and a refined Champagne selection, including Moët & Chandon Ice Brut and Ice Rosé, paired with special sorbets. Elegant new canapés such as foie gras bon bons and miso-pumpkin tart are also part of the menu. Desserts include traditional stollen, mince pies, apple pie with cinnamon ice cream, and cranberry sorbet. Visitors can warm up with gingerbread lattes or Galaxy hot chocolate by Costa Coffee.

Across Emirates lounges worldwide, guests will find Christmas dishes tailored to regional tastes in countries including Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK and the USA.

The celebrations also extend to fine wines and Champagne. In First Class, Emirates will debut the rare Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2, 2006, along with wines from the airline’s exclusive cellar, including Montrachet Grand Cru 2013 – Bouchard & Fils and Château Montrose 2005. Business Class will offer wines such as Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion 2010, Chateau Olivier 2010, Beaune du Chateau 1er Cru 2020, Two Hands Bella's Garden Shiraz 2021, and Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2020. Premium Economy travellers can enjoy wines like Tenuta Luce Lucente 2021 and Chablis Saint Martin Michel Laroche 2023 or choose the exclusive Chandon Vintage Brut 2018.

Emirates will also celebrate Orthodox Christmas from 24 December to 8 January on flights between Russia, Cyprus, Ethiopia and Dubai. First and Business Class menus will feature dishes such as Olivier salad, lobster tail with celeriac purée and Sevruga caviar, pickled herring, smoked salmon with crab mayonnaise, duck confit with cranberry jus lié, herb-crusted lamb shank, and festive desserts like white chocolate and peppermint mousse cake with cranberry compote or chocolate gingerbread cake with cranberry jelly. Economy Class offerings include Russian potato salad, Waldorf salad, barbecued chicken with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, creamy beef stroganoff, and desserts such as peppermint mousse or classic fruit cake.

Emirates’ inflight entertainment, ice, will feature 39 Christmas movies, including new releases like Tinsel Town and Dear Santa, along with classic favourites like Last Christmas, The Holiday, Elf, The Polar Express, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from 1964. Passengers can also explore 42 Christmas TV shows and specials, along with festive music albums and playlists.

Travellers searching for last-minute gifts can explore the EmiratesRED Winter 2025 catalogue featuring over 300 products from brands such as Armani, Creed, Amouage, YSL, Kilian, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Customers using the EmiratesRED pre-order service will receive a 10% discount with the code RED10. Emirates’ festive capsule collection at the Emirates Official Store offers Christmas jumpers, family pyjamas, themed stockings, hats, and mugs.

Emirates is also encouraging festive kindness with its ‘You Donate, Emirates Doubles’ initiative, where the airline will match customer donations up to $10,000 to support the Emirates Airline Foundation. Donations can be made in any currency through envelopes onboard or via credit card, cheque, Skywards miles, or bank transfer.


Direct Ahmedabad–Colombo Flights Launched with City of Dreams Sri Lanka Partnership

Direct Ahmedabad–Colombo Flights Launched with City of Dreams Sri Lanka Partnership

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 7, 2026

City of Dreams Sri Lanka, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, and Walkers Tours have joined hands with FitsAir to introduce direct passenger flights between Ahmedabad and Colombo. This move is set to make international travel easier for travellers from Gujarat while opening up better access to Sri Lanka’s popular leisure destinations.

Operated by FitsAir, Sri Lanka’s first private international airline, the new route will run three times a week. The service is aimed at meeting the growing demand for overseas holidays from Gujarat, offering a smooth and direct travel option to Colombo.

With this improved connectivity, travellers can explore a range of premium stays under Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, including Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, and Cinnamon Red Colombo.

Gujarat is steadily growing as an important source market for Sri Lanka, supported by strong cultural connections and increasing interest in international travel. The launch of these direct flights is expected to strengthen tourism between Ahmedabad and Colombo, positioning Sri Lanka as a preferred short-haul destination.

Located in the heart of Colombo, City of Dreams Sri Lanka brings together entertainment, hospitality, and lifestyle experiences. Travellers can also opt for curated holiday packages that include stays at Cinnamon properties along with multi-destination itineraries across Sri Lanka, such as cultural trips to Kandy and beach getaways.

Nayana Mawilmada, President – Leisure & Property, John Keells Holdings, said, “We are delighted to strengthen our presence in the Indian market, particularly in Gujarat, which continues to show strong potential for outbound travel. This strategic partnership and the introduction of direct connectivity from Ahmedabad make it significantly easier for travellers to experience the unique blend of luxury, entertainment, and cultural richness that City of Dreams Sri Lanka and Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts have to offer.”

Kamal Munasinghe, Senior Vice President – Colombo Hotels, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, added, “Ahmedabad is an important and fast-growing market for us. With the launch of these direct flights, we are excited to welcome more travellers from Gujarat to Colombo. From the immersive experiences at City of Dreams Sri Lanka to the diverse hospitality offerings across Cinnamon properties, we look forward to delivering memorable stays tailored to Indian guests.”

Nalaka Amaratunga - Chief Executive Officer, Destination Management Sector, Walkers Tours commented, “This partnership marks an important milestone in enhancing connectivity between Ahmedabad and Colombo. By combining direct flights with thoughtfully curated travel packages, we aim to offer a seamless and enriching Sri Lankan holiday experience for travellers from Gujarat.”

Starting from 15 May, 2026, flights will operate three times a week between Ahmedabad and Colombo. Specially curated travel packages by Cinnamon, which include return airfare, a two-night stay with breakfast at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, and private airport transfers, offering a convenient and value-driven travel option.

Travel Schedule – Effective from 15th May

  • Ahmedabad → Colombo: 03:40 – 06:50

  • Ahmedabad → Colombo: 10:45 – 13:55

  • Colombo → Ahmedabad: 23:25 – 02:35

  • Colombo → Ahmedabad: 06:30 – 09:40.


Saudia Introduces Google Feature to Help Track Lost Baggage

Saudia Introduces Google Feature to Help Track Lost Baggage

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 7, 2026

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has introduced Google’s Find Hub share item location feature to make baggage recovery smoother and more efficient. The move adds an optional layer of support for guests dealing with delayed or missing baggage.

With this feature, guests using a compatible tracker tag or Bluetooth device can create a secure and temporary link that shares the location of their baggage. This link can be attached while reporting a lost or delayed bag, allowing Saudia’s ground teams to access real-time location details and speed up the recovery process.

The shared access is time-bound and automatically expires after seven days. Guests can also stop sharing the location at any point, ensuring they stay in complete control of their information throughout the process.

This update works alongside Saudia’s existing baggage handling systems, giving travellers better visibility and added reassurance during their journey. It is designed to make the experience more transparent while keeping things simple and user-friendly.

Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia, said: “Our focus is on giving guests confidence and reassurance throughout their journey. Initiatives like this reflect our broader commitment to clarity, transparency, and ensuring guests feel informed and in control at every stage of the experience. It is about strengthening trust and providing peace of mind through thoughtful, guest-centered decisions.”

By rolling out this feature, Saudia becomes one of the first airlines globally to adopt such technology, highlighting its focus on digital innovation and improved guest experiences.

The feature has been built with privacy in mind. Location details are shared only for baggage recovery purposes and remain accessible to the airline for a limited time. Once the process is completed or the guest decides to stop sharing, access is automatically removed.

Guests can use this feature by ensuring their device and tracker accessory are compatible and updated to the latest supported software versions.


InterGlobe’s Miiro Opens Second Vienna Property with Miiro Spittelberg

InterGlobe’s Miiro Opens Second Vienna Property with Miiro Spittelberg

By Author

Published on April 6, 2026

InterGlobe Enterprises’ lifestyle hospitality brand Miiro has strengthened its European presence with the opening of Miiro Spittelberg, marking its second property in Vienna.

Located in the historic Spittelberg District, just behind the MuseumsQuartier, the hotel is set within one of the city’s most culturally vibrant neighbourhoods. Known for its cobbled streets, artisan heritage, independent galleries, and lively café culture, the area offers an authentic window into Vienna’s contemporary creative scene.

Miiro Spittelberg features 132 guestrooms and suites, designed with a blend of warm neutrals, bold accents, natural textures, and soft lighting. Staying true to Miiro’s ‘Brilliantly Considered’ design philosophy, the rooms are crafted to provide a calming yet refined atmosphere, complete with plush beds, rainfall showers, cosy reading nooks, and premium toiletries.

The hotel’s design combines sleek modern lines with creative details, offering guests a space that feels both stylish and comfortable. Whether exploring Vienna’s iconic landmarks or unwinding within the property, the experience is designed to feel immersive and connected to its surroundings.

Dining at the hotel reflects a seamless all-day concept inspired by European café culture with an Italian twist. The experience is anchored by Poco, an Italian-inspired urban pizzeria and bar, adding a vibrant social element to the property.

Art plays a central role in the hotel’s identity, highlighted by an immersive ceiling mural that encourages personal reflection. This is complemented by a curated collection of works by Austrian and international artists displayed throughout the space. Additional amenities include a library, a 24-hour gym, and Miiro’s signature Refresh Room.

Commenting on the opening, Neena Gupta said, “The opening of Miiro Spittelberg marks an exciting milestone as we continue to grow Miiro in culturally rich European cities. Vienna’s artistic spirit and deep-rooted heritage make it a natural home for not just one but two of our properties, and the neighbourhood of Spittelberg reflects the lively, local energy we seek to celebrate.”

With this launch, Miiro continues to expand its footprint across Europe, with a growing portfolio spanning cities such as Paris, Barcelona, London, Gstaad, and Vienna, while InterGlobe’s broader international presence extends to destinations including Amsterdam, Munich, Prague, Budapest, Hamburg, and Melbourne.

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