Chingrir malaikari and mochar ghonto for lunch or dinner, hinger kachuri or luchi, mangsher ghugni and chholar dal for breakfast and high tea, and a treat of jalbhora sandesh before boarding the flight. This Puja, domestic and international airlines will serve lip-smacking Bengali dishes on board from Saptami to Navami.

“Passengers have become conscious about the food served on board, even on short flights. Cuisine plays an important part in attracting passengers. In the past few years, eight to 10 per cent of frequent fliers have changed airlines to try out newer cuisine,” said Anil Punjabi, the chairman (east) of the Travel Agents Federation of India.

“I look forward to flying during the festive season because of the special Bengali food that the airlines offer,” said ghazal singer Aruna Kundnani.

Air India is preparing an exclusive Bengali menu for all its flights from Calcutta, which is to be served on a tray covered with a banana leaf. “It’s not the food alone but the entire presentation which will capture the essence of Durga puja,” an airline official said.

Kosha mangsho, bekti paturi, aloo-phulkopir dalna, rai murgi, bhuni (dry) khichuri with bekti fry are some of the items to be served on Air India’s flights. The feast will be rounded up with chhanar jilipi, amriti and a dessert named Paritripti, which will be made of cottage cheese and papaya, said an official.

Jet Airways, too, has a similar a plan. “From chingrir malaikari, goat’s meat to misti doi, our passengers will have a variety of Bengali delicacies to choose from,” said a Jet Airways official.

Singapore Airlines will serve Bengali sweets to passengers at the terminal and Emirates airline, which serves Bengali food on its Calcutta-Dubai flight, will introduce more items during the Puja.