Cathay Pacific Launches “Restaurant” Dining
Joe Cortez June 19, 2018
Cathay Pacific flights will get “restaurant style” dining starting in July 2018. The Hong Kong-based airline will extend their popular in-flight food program to Chicago-bound flights this year, followed by all flights heading for Australia by mid-2019.
Flyers in Cathay Pacific business class will soon get to experience the “restaurant style” dining service concept starting in July 2018, a revamped service that will include individually-plated meals chosen from an à la carte menu which will include three starter choices and “up to six main course choices.” The menu will also include a series of light and healthy meals and a “most loved main course” for each route. Australian Business Traveller reports the airline will expand their service to several flights over the next 18 months.
First up to order their own meals in flight will be those heading from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The service will be introduced to Boeing 777 aircraft starting in July. Service will then be added to other international markets, including London Gatwick Airport (LGW), Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) by the end of the year.
By March 2019, the service will expand to flights bound for Sydney Airport (SYD) and four American markets: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). By June 2019, eight North American airports will have restaurant service on flights.
When the rollout is complete, the service will be offered on 34 routes. After takeoff, flyers in business class can select a starter and entrée from an à la carte menu. The three appetizers and six entrees are custom plated for each flyer, offering multiple combinations.
To increase the custom experience, the airline will also begin offering “breakfast cards” to business travelers flying east. Like hotel room service, flyers can fill out the card with their breakfast request before falling asleep. During the “morning” part of the flight, the flyer’s requests of a western or Asian breakfast will be delivered to their seat. The airline will also offer an “express continental” breakfast of a pastry and beverage, which can be served as late as one hour prior to landing.
The move comes as Cathay Pacific feels more pressure to compete for international travelers. In January 2018, Hong Kong Airlines announced a planned expansion to the United States, offering “affordable luxury” flights between America and the autonomous city.
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