CZECH AIRLINES TEAMS UP WITH Zátiší GROUP

[dropcap size=small]C[/dropcap]zech airlines meals options for business and economy class passengers are set to change on 1 June with a new range of inflight meal options gracing the skies. The airline has just announced a new collaboration with chefs from the Zátiší Group a chain of restaurants and catering company based in Prague.

Economy class passengers flying from Brussels, Barcelona and Madrid to/from Prague are also set to benefit from the new inflight meal range with options such as homemade white and dark baguettes served with cheese and vegetables. While international economy class passengers flying to Russia and Central Asia will sample more local style meals which have been developed by the team at Skyport Catering.

For travellers heading to Seoul dishes such as pumpkin soup or partridge with creamy mushroom sauce and gnocchi will be served on select flights.

Business-class passengers flying to/from Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Copenhagen, and other routes will be served Tramezzi with ham and cheese, chicken with vegetables or pollo tonnato with tuna mayonnaise.

While passengers flying further afield on international long-haul services to Seoul will have a choice of three main meal choices including a Korean option of Bibimbap, Chicken Makhani with rice and aubergine Masala, ham and cheese quiche, veal rump steak with creamy-vegetable sauce and Karlovy Vary dumplings.

In a recent press conference Sanjiv Suri, Zátiší Group President & CEO said, “We believe that quality and tasty food should be a part of our lives. There is no reason to compromise even aboard an aircraft. The combination of our food concept with Czech Airlines’ Business Class service proves that. Our joint goal is to provide clients with the utmost of comfort and exceptional experiences during every moment of their travels,”.

Nik Loukas

Nik founded Inflight Feed in 2012, blending his passion for inflight dining with over a decade of experience in the airline industry. For the past 13 years, he has travelled the world, exploring and reviewing airline meals across countless carriers.

CNN Travel, The New York Times, and BBC World News have featured Nik’s expertise. When he’s not on the ground, you’ll find him at 35,000 feet, camera in hand, capturing the unique flavours of air travel. Follow his inflight meal adventures on Instagram: @InflightFeed.

NEW BUSINESS CLASS MEALS FOR AEROFLOT

[dropcap size=small]R[/dropcap]ussian airline Aeroflot has announced a new range of inflight dishes that will feature in their business class cabins. The latest menus were selected by a taste panel which also included journalists, celebrities and the airline’s critical partners during a tasting session at Moscow’s Tinatin restaurant.

The airline collaborated with Russian celebrity food writer Nika Belotserkovskaya as well as Thierry Mona of LSG Sky Chefs and Kamel Benamar of Moscow’s Vanile and Bolshoi restaurant. Together the team created the menus which include options such as meatloaf with foie gras, dried fruits and sweet pepper with plum sauce, vinaigrette with salmon and sunflower seed oil, and grilled chicken with wild rice, vegetables and roasted tomato. Desserts include options such as cheesecake with raspberry and lemon mousse with blueberries.

Additional options include a cold appetiser of octopus with potatoes, celery and lemon dressing, salad with mozzarella and peaches with olive oil and vinegar dressing, pumpkin puree soup with cream cheese and pistachios and lamb stew with couscous and pesto sauce.

“Aeroflot takes the quality and variety of food offered onboard very seriously and involves top chefs and confectioners in the creation of the menu,” said Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev. “A healthy and balanced menu is a responsible choice for us. Top-quality ingredients and recipes, perfect presentation and top-class service, are crucial success factors for Aeroflot’s in-flight menu”.

Photos pictured in this story are current special meal options for Business Class customers, for information regarding Aeroflot meals click here.

Nik Loukas

AIR INDIA TO INTRODUCE PAID MEALS?

[dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]ir India is contemplating the introduction of paid meals for economy class passengers on select routes, this follows an already reduced inflight meal service on domestic flights up to 90 minutes. Air India is facing fierce competition and is looking to increase revenues and reduce costs.

The airline stopped serving hot meals and instead now offers snack boxes on Indian domestic flights with a flight time of up to 90 minutes. The Hindu Business Line reported today that the airline plans to start charging for food served to passengers on short flights of up to 60-90 minutes in duration. At this stage, this is a trial only, and a final decision on whether or not the new system will be introduced should be made in the second half of this year.

The airline’s competitors SpiceJet and Indigo do not provide free meals, and instead offer a buy on board and pre-order meal system for passengers. The prices for the new Air India meals are yet to be determined but should be released by the airline shortly.

Nik Loukas

Brussels Airlines Announces New Celebrity Inspired Dishes

[dropcap size=small]B[/dropcap]russels Airlines has always supported Belgian talent by providing top quality local products to customers onboard. The airline serves some of Belgium’s finest beers and wines, pralines, waffles and cookies.

The airline has just announced a new range of meals inspired by local dishes from Luxemburg, and Star Chef Julien Lahire has created the recipes from Le Moulin Hideux which has been around since 1962. His motto is to always look for the best quality, and Chef Julien still meets the producers of products that he purchases for his meal creations.

The meals are now being served to business class passengers on long-haul flights to the US and Africa. This range of meals will run until July 2014. During April, passengers can expect starters such as chicken ballotines with walnuts presented with iceberg salad and crisp vegetables.

After July the airline will yet again select a new Michelin starred chef this time most likely from the province of Flemish Brabant. Of course, Business Class passengers can still choose from two different menu options during their flight or one of the 21 different special meals that the airline offers for those who require a diet specific meal.

Nik Loukas

NEW INFLIGHT MEAL OPTIONS ON SAS

[dropcap size=small]S[/dropcap]AS is hoping to improve your experience onboard with a range of new meal options for passengers travelling on SAS Plus fares. SAS offers two different types of airfares for passengers travelling within Europe; the first is SAS Go and the second SAS Plus. SAS Go does not include complimentary meals while SAS Plus does include meals (plus some other benefits too).

For those travelling in SAS Plus, an upgraded evening meal will be served in a newly designed box which features glassware from the famous Scandinavian glass maker Orreforsglass. On flights before 9 am free breakfast is served to SAS Plus customers and during the day meal offerings may include warm and cold snacks.

SAS Go passengers will have the opportunity to purchase a range of new meals options from the onboard cafe, which you can view here: http://www.flysas.com/en/us/travel-info/onboard/shop-onboard. Passengers can use SAS Euro Bonus miles to make inflight meal purchases also.

The onboard cafe will be updated regularly with seasonal options for passengers to purchase, and the airline still offers coffee and tea for free on SAS flights.

Pre-departure champagne is being re-introduced in business class along with other treats, while SAS Go includes pre-departure still water and one non-alcoholic drink together with meals. Alcoholic beverages are included in SAS Business and SAS Plus but are for sale in SAS Go.

Nik Loukas

Pick and Choose Your AirBaltic Inflight Meals

[dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]ir Baltic is releasing a new food ordering system online which will allow passengers to drag and drop their preferred meal items onto their airline tray and create their own inflight meal experience.

I spoke exclusively with Janis Vanags VP of Corporate Communications at Air Baltic he explains that “With passengers now being able to create their inflight meal the possibilities are endless, they can fully customise their inflight meal tray to their liking.”

HOW IT WORKS

Step 1- Once passengers have logged onto the system, they will be presented with this screen.

Step 2- Passengers then select food and beverage items on the screen, which then drop down onto their meal tray.

Nutritional information will also be provided to passengers.

At the moment, Air Baltic offers 20 pre-order meal options and four dietary meal options which include: Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, Vegetarian and Kosher meals. With this new system in place, the possibilities are endless. It’s an impressive system and one of the worlds first ‘pick and choose’ inflight meal pre-ordering systems, allowing customers to fully customise their inflight meal experience.

Customers must pre-order their meals no later than 24 hours before departure, however if you don’t pre-order all is not lost. The airline can still deliver a meal to your seat, which can be booked up to 40 minutes before your flight at the ticket desk in Riga.

The system will launch in May and is a fun and exciting way for passengers to pre-order an airline meal and choose precisely what they want inflight.

Nik Loukas