Intro
Most European regional airlines serve bland, forgettable sandwiches that taste like they were made yesterday.
Sky Express actually puts Greek personality into their food – from traditional koulouri biscuits to quality smoked salmon that doesn’t taste like airplane food.
This former island-hopper now flies to 22 European destinations, but have they kept their Greek character?
What’s Included
Sky Express starts every flight with complimentary instant coffee, orange juice, water, and a cookie or small snack.
The cookie was a traditional koulouri biscuit, honey-sweetened, lightly spiced, and with a characteristic crumbly texture.
Instead of generic airline cookies, they’re serving something distinctly Greek.
Buy On Board
For my 2.5-hour journey, I explored their buy-on-board menu, ordering multiple sandwiches and snacks totalling โฌ23.
The menu focuses on sandwiches and snacks rather than attempting hot meals.
Sky Express collaborates with Garden Gourmet Greece for its sandwich offerings, with Olympic Catering (established in 1970 as part of the original Olympic Airways) handling preparation.
They’ve clearly put thought into the sandwich options:
Smoked Turkey (2 pieces) – โฌ6.00
Smoked Salmon (2 pieces) – โฌ6.00
Vegan Sausage Brioche (1 piece) – โฌ6.00
Prosciutto Mozzarella (2 pieces) – โฌ8.00
The smoked salmon sandwich was the standout, layered on quality bread that didn’t compete with the salmon’s delicate taste.
The portion size was generous, two substantial pieces constituted a decent meal rather than an overpriced snack.
More importantly, this tasted like smoked salmon rather than the artificial, overly salty version you can encounter.
The vegan sausage brioche deserves a mention. Vegan airline food typically ranges from afterthought to actively disappointing.
This wasn’t “vegan food for carnivores”โit was simply good food that happened to be vegan.
The sandwich packaging revealed Sky Express’s quirky brand personality. Messages like “Welcome on Bread” and “Smoked Salmon is allowed for the duration of the flight” added humour.
Some might call it cheesy, but I appreciated the effort to inject personality into what could have been boring packaging.
Value
At โฌ23 for multiple sandwiches and snacks, Sky Express pricing sits in the middle range for European airline food.
It is not bargain basement but reasonable for quality ingredients and generous portions.
The smoked salmon sandwich alone justified its โฌ6 price point in a market where inferior options often cost more.
Sky Bliss: Business Class
Sky Express introduced the “Sky Bliss” business class in 2023, focusing on fresh, healthy options rather than traditional hot meals: Greek salads, regional canapรฉs, and specialties like Apaki (Cretan pork) from various Greek regions.
The concept includes pre-ordering 48 hours ahead, rotating seasonal menus, and emphasising fresh rather than frozen preparations.
Meals are served in recyclable cardboard with wooden cutlery.
Sky Bliss feels more like premium economy than traditional business class.
The lack of hot meals, wooden cutlery, and cardboard service ware doesn’t match expectations set by established carriers’ business class offerings.
However, this criticism assumes that Sky Express is trying to compete directly with Lufthansa’s or Air France’s business class. It’s not.
Thanks to Sky Express for providing the above photos.
Conclusion
Sky Express shows you can grow without losing what makes you different.
Their focus on Greek products, authentic flavours, and playful brand personality helps them stand out in crowded European markets.
Much better than I expected, especially the smoked salmon and vegan options.
While Sky Bliss business class may not match traditional business class dining, it offers an enhanced experience with great pricing.
Their commitment to Greek suppliers and genuine hospitality makes them worth considering for European routes.
