Introduction


Cathay Pacific serves free meals and drinks in every cabin. Economy menus mix Hong Kong classics, international dishes and vegetarian options; Premium Economy adds more choices and a wider wine list; and in Business, you can pre-order your main course before you fly. Cathay publishes a sample Economy menu as a PDF on its inflight dining page, so you can see the kind of food you’ll get.

Cabin What you get Drinks
Economy A choice of mains mixing Hong Kong, international and vegetarian dishes, with snacks between meals Soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea, wines, beers and spirits
Premium Economy More main course choices than Economy, with international and Hong Kong favourites A wider choice of drinks and wines
Business Restaurant-style menus, with mains you can preorder on eligible long-haul and regional flights Fine wines and teas

Exceptions By Route

When What changes
Selected long-haul and regional flights from Hong Kong (Economy and Premium Economy) Hong Kong Flavours menu created with Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen
Selected Business flights from Hong Kong, including the Aria Suite Menus created with Michelin-starred Duddell’s and Louise, plus Cathay Signatures dishes to preorder
Selected Business flights to the Chinese Mainland Monthly Chinese Classics dish, paired with Chinese tea or wine
Flights to and from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East All meals are prepared without pork or alcohol
Economy between Hong Kong and Taipei or Kaohsiung A non-beef meal is the standard meal
Selected flights Betsy beer, Cathay’s own pale ale

Economy Class Menu

Cathay’s sample Economy menu starts with marinated cucumber and black fungus, then offers a choice of braised duck and taro with steamed jasmine rice, braised beef with mushrooms, or a spiced paneer and vegetable biryani, finished with fruit, ice cream and a Hong Kong egg tart. Breakfast is a mushroom omelette or dim sum with fried noodles, served with Hong Kong-style milk tea, and cup noodles and snacks are available between meals. Drinks include red and white wines, Cathay’s own pale ale, Gweilo craft beer and spirits such as Chivas Regal 12 and Courvoisier VSOP. Menus change by route and season, so treat this as a guide to the style rather than your exact meal.

Airline meal tray with rice, vegetables, meatballs in sauce, a bread roll, cup of juice, fruit salad, packaged butter, and cutlery on a tray table.
A review of Cathay Pacific's economy class food tray, featuring pasta, meat and cheese.
A meal consisting of meat, potatoes, and green beans in Cathay Pacific's economy class.

Premium Economy

Premium Economy has more main course choices than Economy and a wider selection of drinks and wines, with international flavours alongside Hong Kong favourites such as warm egg tarts. On selected long-haul and regional flights from Hong Kong, both Premium Economy and Economy offer a Hong Kong Flavours menu created with the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Yat Tung Heen.

Airlines' in-flight meal: Cathay Pacific economy class review.

Business Class

In Business you can preorder your main course with Choose My Meal on eligible long-haul and regional flights, from 10 days up to 24 hours before departure, and change or cancel it until the same deadline. On selected flights from Hong Kong, including in the Aria Suite, Business menus are created with Michelin-starred partners Duddell’s and Louise, and you can also choose from Cathay Signatures, a set of its most popular dishes such as braised abalone with pomelo pith, steamed halibut with chorizo sauce and bean curd parcels with pumpkin sauce. On selected Business flights to the Chinese Mainland, a monthly Chinese Classics dish showcases one of China’s Eight Great Cuisines, paired with Chinese tea or wine.

A tray of airline food with rice, vegetables, fish, a bread roll, salad, three drinks, and a small container of dressing or sauce.
An in-flight meal with a bread roll, dessert, main dish, three drinks, and a napkin on a tray, set on a business class airplane seat by the window.
First class cabin on an airplane with private suites, individual screens, light gray partitions, and overhead storage; a framed artwork is mounted on the wall.

Special Meals

Cathay Pacific offers religious, vegetarian, child and medical special meals. Order one in Manage Booking or through Customer Care at least 24 hours before your flight. Cathay no longer serves peanuts as a snack, but it can’t provide peanut or tree nut-free meals.

Special Meals Guide

Inflight Reviews

Want to know what it was actually like? Read our Cathay Pacific Economy food review and our Business Class and Pier Lounge review.

Cathay Economy Class Review
Cathay Business Class Review

FAQs

Is food free on Cathay Pacific?

Yes. Meals and drinks are included in every cabin, including Economy.

Can I see the Cathay Pacific menu before my flight?

Cathay publishes a sample Economy menu as a PDF on its inflight dining page. In Business, you can browse your actual flight’s menu in Choose My Meal from 10 days before departure.

Does Cathay Pacific serve alcohol in Economy?

Yes. Economy drinks include red and white wines, beers such as Cathay’s own pale ale and Gweilo craft beer, and spirits.

Can I preorder my meal on Cathay Pacific?

Yes, in Business on eligible long-haul and regional flights. Choose My Meal opens 10 days before your flight and closes 24 hours before departure.

Does Cathay Pacific have halal meals?

Yes, but you need to order it. The Muslim meal (MOML) contains no pork, bacon, ham or alcohol, and all poultry and meat are slaughtered and cooked according to halal rules. Request it in Manage Booking at least 24 hours before departure.

Does Cathay Pacific serve peanuts?

No. Cathay no longer serves peanuts as a snack, but it can’t guarantee a nut-free cabin or provide nut-free meals.

Inflight Reviews of Cathay Pacific

- Cathay Pacific Economy Food Review
Modern cafe interior with wooden chairs, round tables, hanging pendant lights, and a counter with drinks; one person sits while another works behind the counter.

Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class & Pier Lounge

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