Asian Carriers Hope to Lure Passengers With Enhanced Menus

Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines improve premium cabin food offering to attract flyers.

Luxury carriers are extending their battle for premium cabin flyers into the aircraft galley, as two Asian carriers are looking to win over passengers with meal options. Bloomberg reports the new offerings by both Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines are a direct attempt to bring over flyers from the Middle East Three to their airlines.

Aboard Cathay Pacific, flyers can now choose between both Asian and Western food favorites, from an English tea service to 14 different types of noodle soups (some pictured below). The new food offerings are an extension of their partnerships with Mandarin Oriental and Ritz-Carlton, bringing together local gourmet favorites at high altitudes. At the beginning of the year, the airline announced the move as part of a plan to “elevate the unique Hong Kong dining experience in our in-flight catering.”

While the Hong Kong-based airline is adding gourmet moves, Singapore Airlines is hoping to attract luxury flyers by adding healthier meal choices to the menu. In a press release, the airline announced their plan to revitalize their entire menu on the ground in the air. New menu items include Citrus Steamed Sea Bass (lead image), as well as a Sousvide Miso Simmered Beef Yamato-Style (pictured below), a traditional Japanese dish.

“The new ‘Deliciously Wholesome’ meals are designed to restore and rejuvenate the body, especially on long-haul flights,” Mayura Mohata, healthy cooking author and consultant to Singapore Airlines, said in a press release. “They are prepared using a wide variety of carefully-selected ingredients such as whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish, seeds, nuts, herbs and spices.”

The new food offerings began rolling out at the beginning of the year on Cathay Pacific while Singapore Airlines began rolling out their menus at the beginning of April. The offerings are in-line with offerings aboard their competition: Emirates offers business class flyers access to an in-flight bar, pairing Dom Perignon with a number of items while Qatar Airways worked with Michelin-recognized chefs to create their business class menus.

[Photos via Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines]