Intro

Most budget airlines charge €8-15 for terrible sandwiches that make you question your life choices. AirAsia’s Santan meals cost $3 and actually taste like the Southeast Asian street food they’re based on.

After testing their meals on multiple routes, I can tell you they’ve figured out what other budget carriers haven’t.

A close-up photo of an in-flight menu for AirAsia showcasing 'Santan' with an image of two hands holding a mug and the text 'love' in green at the top.

What is Santan?

Launched in 2015, Santan isn’t just AirAsia’s catering brand – it’s become a standalone restaurant brand across Southeast Asia.

When your airline food is good enough to build actual restaurants around, you know something’s working.

The name originates from the Malay word for coconut milk, and everything about their approach shows they understand regional food culture.

An open in-flight menu on an airplane tray table, displaying images and descriptions of various meals, snacks, and beverages available for purchase.
An open menu displayed on an airplane tray table shows various meal options, including Nasi Lemak, chicken with rice, and vegetable curry, along with drinks like coffee and soup. Prices are listed in MYR.
Open magazine showing a food advertisement with a smiling woman in an orange top on the left page and various snack options with pricing on the right page. Some text is in Thai.
An open in-flight menu displaying a Handmade Napoletana Style Mushroom Truffle Pizza on the left and various other food and drink options on the right.
Open menu showing dessert and meal options including Boba Thai Milk Tea Pudding, Chicken Ciabatta, and Thai Mango Sticky Rice with prices listed in Thai Baht.

The Pricing That Changes Everything

Here’s where AirAsia separates itself from every other budget carrier:

Thai menu prices range from THB 100 to THB 120 (roughly $3 to $3.50 USD).

These aren’t snack prices, we’re talking complete meals with protein, vegetables, rice or noodles, and accompaniments.

Cebu Pacific charges three times more for similar meals, and European budget carriers charge €8-15 for mediocre sandwiches.

AirAsia proves you don’t need to fleece passengers just because they’re stuck on a plane.

The Thai Menu

The Thai menu shows they get it:

Basil Fried Chicken on Rice – Thai street food elevated for airline service.

Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak – Malaysia’s national dish with fragrant coconut rice

Pad Thai with Egg Wrap – Thailand’s famous export.

Green Curry Chicken with Rice – authentic Thai flavours with creative additions

Uncle Chin’s Chicken Rice – Singapore’s beloved comfort food

These aren’t generic dishes but specific, culturally authentic preparations that taste like the countries they represent.

A slice of burnt cheesecake with a dark top crust is displayed next to its packaging, labeled "The OG Burnt Cheesecake," exuding a tempting aroma.

The burnt cheesecake at THB 80 ($2.40) deserves special mention, this signature item requires precise technique to achieve a caramelised top without overcooking the creamy interior.

Most airlines would charge double for something half as good.

The Pre Order Meals

Bangkok to Phuket

For this short domestic hop, I ordered the Pad Thai with Egg Wrap and Chicken & Cheese Sandwich.

Airplane tray table with a meal consisting of Pad Thai, a sandwich wrap, two bottles of water, a napkin, and plastic cutlery.

Both arrived before the main service started, ensuring pre-order customers get served first.

The Pad Thai delivered genuine Thai flavours. Most importantly, this tasted like actual Pad Thai rather than “airline Asian noodles.”

An airline meal on a tray table includes a dish with prawns and rice, bread topped with herbs, a packaged dessert, two bottles of water, and a plastic fork and knife set on a napkin.
A glass container holds a dish with eggs topped with herbs and orange garnish. It is accompanied by bread slices, cheese, and mushrooms. Another dish and a water bottle are partially visible.
View of an airplane cabin facing the back, showing rows of seated passengers, overhead compartments, and a flight attendant walking down the aisle.

Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

The second flight proved their consistency across the network.

Meals arrived in Santan-branded bags, reinforcing the restaurant aesthetic while ensuring food quality matched the Bangkok flight.

A brown paper bag with twisted handles on an airline seat tray table, featuring the words "Good Food. Good Coffee. Good Value." and the logo "santan" in green.

What AirAsia understands is that Southeast Asian food culture emphasises bold flavours, fresh ingredients, and affordable accessibility.

Street food in Bangkok, KL, or Singapore delivers complex, satisfying meals for prices equivalent to what AirAsia charges at 35,000 feet.

A tray table on an airplane with a meal consisting of rice and curry, a plastic-wrapped set of red cutlery, a napkin, and a bottle of water.
Airline meal tray on an airplane with a packaged Hyderabadi vegetable biryani, a sealed bottle of water, a set of red cutlery, and a white napkin placed on a tray table.
A magazine with the title "LOVE" and an image of two hands holding a blue cup is placed on an airplane tray table. The cover mentions "santan" and "Good Food. Good Coffee. Good Value.

The Pre Order Advantage

AirAsia’s pre-order system offers up to 35% discounts while guaranteeing meal availability.

Given that their pricing already beats competitors, this makes their food almost stupidly cheap for airline standards.

Book meals when purchasing tickets – onboard prices are higher.

Conclusion

Airline food can be affordable, authentic, and satisfying.

AirAsia has mastered budget airline dining – they’ve shown what’s possible when airlines serve good food at fair prices.

For budget travellers who want meals rather than overpriced snacks, AirAsia’s Santan programme sets the standard that other carriers should study carefully.

Worth it? Absolutely. Choose this over any other budget carrier’s food offerings.

More Information

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