Emirates Takes a U-Turn, Brings Back ‘Hindu Meal’ on Flights

As part of its review of products and services, the airline had decided to discontinue the ‘Hindu Meal’ option.

File image of an Emirates aircraft.

(Photo: iStock)

Emirates Airlines on Wednesday, 4 July, said that it will continue offering the ‘Hindu meal’ on its flights, citing customer feedback, a day after it had decided to scrap the meal option.

The carrier had said that Hindu customers can choose from a variety of regionally-inspired vegetarian and special meals. Emirates is the single largest foreign carrier in terms of flights operating in India.

"Based on feedback from our customers, Emirates confirms we will continue to provide a Hindu meal option, to make it easier for our Hindu customers to identify and request this option," the airline said, in a statement, on Wednesday.

According to Emirates, it constantly reviews its offerings after taking into consideration customer uptake and feedback.

Food and drink form an integral part of any Emirates flight experience and our menus are created by leading chefs to reflect the culture and preferences of Emirates’ diverse customer base.

Emirates Airlines’ statement

"Emirates has always provided a wide variety of special meals that can be ordered at least 24 hours in advance to cater to our customers with medical or religious dietary requirements, including our Hindu customers," the statement said.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, 3 July, the carrier had said that as part of the continuous review of products and services available to customers, it would discontinue the 'Hindu meal' option.

"Emirates also offers options of religious meals like ‘Vegetarian Jain Meal’, ‘Indian Vegetarian Meal’, ‘Kosher’ meals and non-beef, non-vegetarian options as well," it had said.

The airline operates flights to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kochi, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram, according to its website.

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After the airline reversed its decision, it was at the receiving end of social media users’ wrath. While many said the decision was taken in the light of strong objections from its Hindu customers, others said that the customer feedback is a “sham.”

Taking a dig, a user called out the Gulf carrier for naming meals after a particular religion.

In another exchange online, journalist Nidhi Razdan said meals have “no religion.”

Another user said from her experience she had learnt that a “Hindu meal” is basically “non veg without Beef”.

The reversal of the decision also stems from the “soft power of Indians”, a user cited.

A user sought clarification from Emirates on what the meal will actually consist.

(With inputs from PTI.)