Emirates invites customers to experience a sleigh-full of Christmas cheer for the whole month of December, with traditional treats and festive fare available across international lounges and a host of delights served inflight. For more than a million customers expected to travel in December, Emirates’ heartfelt hospitality celebrates the most wonderful time of the year.
Traditional treats at the Emirates Lounges
In the Cape Town lounge, guests can indulge in a delightful selection of dishes crafted for the festive season. Tender lamb shanks are braised to perfection in a rich, flavoursome broth infused with rosemary, thyme, garlic, and tomatoes. For those preferring poultry, the orange ginger chicken breasts are smothered in a bright and citrusy orange-ginger sauce. Accompanying these main courses are sides like honey-glazed baby carrots and grilled Norwegian salmon served with a creamy citrus velouté, providing a refined and flavourful dining experience. Vegetarians can savour wonderfully roasted vegetable skewers, infused with herbs and spices, to suit their palates.
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, the festive offerings are equally impressive with a wide variety of dishes to choose from. Lamb shanks with herb and mushroom stuffing headline the menu, while chicken supreme and chicken à l’orange, paired with butter and ginger potatoes, deliver a combination of richness and zest. Guests can enjoy roasted vegetable sosaties, Mediterranean vegetable skewers, truffle mashed potatoes, and couscous with roasted Brussels sprouts, cranberries, and walnuts. Additional sides like honey-glazed cherry carrots, roasted broccoli with almonds, and creamy broccoli and cauliflower bake round out the sumptuous spread, ensuring every palate is satisfied. For a sweet finish, desserts include Christmas pudding cheesecake, steamed apple and marmalade pudding, a hazelnut tart, rose-flavoured pavlova, and a cranberry and nut tart.
Emirates’ First and Business Class lounges in Dubai will also be serving customer favourites. More information here.
Christmas cuisine in the clouds
From 14-26 December, customers in all classes will be offered festive hot chocolate, with different tempting toppings across classes from meringues to marshmallows to melt-in-the-mouth Valrhona chocolate pellets. From 24-26 December, special giveaways will also be offered; dark chocolate truffles in Economy Class, gingerbread cookies in Business Class, and a raspberry Paris-Brest pastry in First Class.
Tailored for Johannesburg and Cape Town, the meal in First Class and Business Class begins with an exquisite appetizer choice: Salmon gravadlax, featuring beetroot and orange-marinated salmon, cranberry ginger purée, pickled daikon, and red radish; or a decadent lobster tail, served with celeriac purée, Sevruga caviar, and a herb olive dressing with chives and spinach. The main course offers a succulent herb-crusted lamb shank accompanied by jus, roasted potatoes, butternut squash, and braised cabbage. To finish, indulge in a delightful white chocolate peppermint cake, served with cranberry compote, pistachio sponge, and a festive candy cane.
Economy Class customers can enjoy some barbecue chicken accompanied by cranberry jus lié, creamy mashed potatoes with carrots, a chestnut and turkey bacon roulade, maple-roasted parsnip, potato wedges, and green peas. Customers can also enjoy a refreshing Waldorf salad made with crisp apple, celery, cranberries, raisins, walnuts, and a smooth mayonnaise dressing. For dessert, a delectable peppermint mousse paired with a vibrant fruit compote, playful popping candy, and a festive candy cane can be enjoyed.
Festive Fine Wines in the sky
This December, an exclusive vintage – Château Mouton Rothschild 2003 from the Emirates Vintage Collection will be available to First Class customers travelling on routes from Dubai to the UK. With an 1855 Bordeaux classification, this wine is sought after for its bold expression of Pauillac terroir and status as a ‘First Growth’. A fusion of art and wine, the 2003 label was designed by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, marking the 150th anniversary of Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild’s acquisition of Mouton.
Across other classes, Emirates customers will also enjoy premium wines with new additions such as the M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne, Rhone, 2019 in Business Class on European routes, and the Château de Sales, Pomerol 2014 in Premium Economy on routes to Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland.
Get in a merry mood with festive entertainment on ice
This Christmas, Emirates customers have a choice of 42 holiday season movies onboard the award-winning inflight entertainmentice, with new movies such as Candy Cane Lane starring Eddie Murphy, EXmas starring Leighton Meester and A Christmas Frequency starring Denise Richards alongside all-time favourites Last Christmas, The Holiday, Elf, The Polar Express and even Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from 1964. There is an array of 14 Christmas TV shows and holiday specials, including Lighting Up Christmas, Royal Carols: Together at Christmas 2023 and Tom and Jerry: Snowman’s Land. For those who wish to get into the holly jolly rhythm, there are 15 albums of Christmas music from artists like Sam Smith, the Vince Guaraldi Trio, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
Spreading joy in the season of giving
Customers can grab some last-minute gifts as Emirates RED launches an exclusive sale available on most flights until December 14 with deals of up to 50% off. New luxury products launched on EmiratesRED include fragrances from Frederic Malle, Diptyque, Ex Nihilo and Hugo Boss, Montblanc sunglasses and Bally wallets, and trending skincare and wellness items from Drunk Elephant, Sol de Janeiro and other leading brands. The EmiratesRED pre-order service is available on most flights, allowing customers to shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight, provide flight details during checkout, and then receive the order delivered by cabin crew directly to their seat while in the air.
Emirates customers can also celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and spread joy with Emirates Airline Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children. Emirates customers can donate in any currency on any flight by using the envelope in the seat pocket, or via credit card, cheque, Skywards miles, or bank transfer, on their flight or from home.
