British Airways Celebrates 100 Years of Flights to India With Special Menu

British Airways is celebrating a whole century of connecting the United Kingdom to India with new amenities on international flights. From now until the end of November, travelers that book a flight to India, the United States, or Canada can enjoy a fascinating tribute to the populous subcontinent. 

Adding Spice To British Flights

British Airways has announced a limited-time Indian menu on routes to select international flights from Heathrow Airport throughout the months of October and November. This menu commemorates 100 years of the airline flying to India and serving Indian customers.

The airline's culinary team has put together a "carefully curated" selection of eats featuring traditional and authentic Indian meals, with dishes that focus on genuine ingredients and spices.

While the full list of menu options has yet to be revealed, media outlets have been able to get a hold of a few standout dishes that can get taste buds going.

• Phaldari kofta with five-spice vegetables, pomegranate seeds, and a creamy korma sauce 
• Grilled spiced lamb rack with okra do pyaza, Rogan josh sauce, and a crisp papadum 
• Railway lamb curry with five-spiced vegetables and aromatic basmati rice 
• Zafrani chicken with coconut rice, saag makai, and xacuti sauce
• Bhapa Doi dessert with mangoes, papaya, and passion fruit
• Young Jackfruit biryani 

The airline will also provide Indian refreshments in the form of tea and alcohol. British Airways has collaborated with Twinnings to brew a special masala chai tea with festive flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. This spiced beverage is said to make flights more relaxing.

For unwinding adults, the airline partnered with a local brewery in Rajasthan to provide bottles of Godawan, a rich malt whiskey with sweet and smokey flavoring. This whiskey is only available to Club World passengers.

In addition to authentic Indian meals, passengers will also have access to over 100 Indian films available from personal entertainment screens. Among these Bollywood classics include action-thriller "The Burning Train" and romantic musical "Dil Chahta Hai". Those that are eager to watch a newer flick also have access to more recent releases such as "Jawan" and "Kantara".

British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer Calum Laming shared these comments on the new, temporary menu and entertainment additions: 

“We’re proud to have a long history of connecting India and the UK. Our predecessor, Imperial Airlines, first flew to New Delhi in 1924 and since then, we’ve grown our operations from London to five major Indian cities."

"This centenary is a massive milestone for us and one that deserves a big celebration, so we’re thrilled to bring the vibrancy of these destinations to the skies. We very much look forward to welcoming customers on board to join in with the festivities and help us celebrate a century of flying the UK flag to one of our most important markets.” 

British Airways currently provides 56 flights between England and India per week. The airline currently flies to Mumbai three times daily, Delhi twice daily, and Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru once daily. Starting on April 20, 2025, the airline will add an additional daily flight from Delhi, increasing the weekly Indian flights to 63.