When you fly from the UK to India with Emirates, the journey becomes more than just travel time. Emirates offers one of the world’s largest inflight entertainment libraries, with over 6,500 channels of films, series, live TV, music, podcasts and games. The airline has won multiple global awards for Best Inflight Entertainment, and for many travellers, especially those flying between Manchester and Dubai before continuing to India, ICE adds comfort, familiarity and cultural connection. You are not just in the air. You are already crossing stories, languages and emotions before you land.
What is Emirates ICE?
ICE stands for Information, Communication, Entertainment. It is not just a screen. It is a companion on long flights. It offers a wide range of international and Indian content, simple navigation and options that suit every age and travel purpose.
Whether you are a student returning home, a family travelling for a festival, or a professional visiting for work, ICE helps the journey feel lighter.
A World on a Screen
Once your flight takes off from Manchester, you will see how enormous the library truly is. You can choose from:
- British dramas and BBC favourites
- Hollywood films and trending series
- Bollywood blockbusters
- Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Punjabi movies
- Documentaries, travel shows and world cinema
- Stand-up comedy and reality shows
For many Indian travellers, especially those who have lived in the UK for a while, this is a warm feeling. You reconnect with your language, humour, music and cultural memories before even landing. ICE does not just entertain. It reminds you of home.
The Sound of the Skies
If you enjoy music while travelling, ICE is almost like carrying your own library. You will find:
- Indian classical and instrumental
- Devotional, bhajans and ghazals
- Bollywood playlists by mood
- Regional indie artists
- Global hits, jazz and slow lounge
- Sleep, meditation and deep rest soundtracks
Many travellers describe the moment when they play familiar music while watching the flight map as emotional. The music and the sky move together. It feels peaceful.
Live Sports, News and Real-Time View from Above
On many Emirates flights, you can watch live sports such as cricket matches, the Premier League and Formula 1. There is also live news from channels like BBC World News.
Another favourite part of ICE is the external camera view:
- Nose camera for take-off and landing
- Downward-facing camera for city lights and landscapes
- Tail camera on some aircraft models
Watching sunrise from above the clouds or the night lights of Dubai as you descend is a moment you remember.
Wi-Fi and Staying Connected
You can stay connected while flying.
- If you are a Skywards member, messaging is often free
- You can send texts on WhatsApp or other apps
- Paid plans are available for full Wi-Fi browsing
Tip: Always add your Skywards number before the flight. It activates the benefits automatically.
This helps when you need to inform family in India about arrival time, arrange pickups, or just say “I’m on the way”.
Comfort, Simplicity and Personal Choice
The ICE interface is easy to use, even for children and elderly travellers.
- Clear touchscreen menus
- Multiple language options including Hindi
- Kids section with safe content
- Ability to create your own watchlist
On many newer A380 aircraft, you can connect your own Bluetooth headphones, which makes the experience even better.
More Than Entertainment: A Cultural Bridge
For travellers going from Manchester to India via Dubai, ICE helps the mind transition from one world to another. You leave the UK behind in thoughts and slowly move back into Indian rhythm through:
- Films
- Music
- Regional language conversations
- Familiar emotional tones
It makes the journey gentler. You do not suddenly land into India. You arrive into it gradually.
Approaching Dubai: A Moment of Stillness
As the plane starts descending towards Dubai, the flight map moves one last time. Gold lights spread under the aircraft like a desert of stars. Your playlist ends. You look outside. There is a quiet excitement now. The journey did not begin at the airport. It began when your seatbelt clicked. That is the magic of Emirates ICE.