Who’s serving up the world’s best in-flight meals?

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The first quarter of the year is a busy time for airlines. Many are adjusting their schedules and strategies based on post-holiday travel trends, and forecasting demand for summer travel and the rest of the year. We’re also getting full-year financial results for 2024, offering insights into revenue, passenger demand, and operational challenges.

Keep reading The Galley to stay ahead of the in-flight catering business in 2025 and beyond.

Who’s dishing up the world’s best in-flight meals?

Remember the last time you had a restaurant-quality meal on a flight? Likely, it was while you were seated in a cabin on a Middle Eastern carrier.

Airlines from the region are redefining in-flight service, setting the standard for hospitality and operational excellence. Middle Eastern carriers dominated the top ranks of a massive survey of 27,000 passengers’ in-flight meal reviews across hundreds of airlines. They captured the top four positions for overall quality. Only one U.S. airline—JetBlue—managed to break into the top 10 at No. 7.

Second-place Oman Air, for example, offers seared crusted tuna and Gruyere cheese tarts in business class or business studio. Even its economy fliers enjoy options such as seared chicken with pesto sauce and braised lamb. It sure beats that mini bag of pretzels you get on most U.S. domestic flights.

How do the best airlines excel at in-flight service, despite all of the logistical challenges at 35,000 feet?

INDUSTRY INSIDER

British Airways backs off after ‘brunchgate’

After facing a fierce backlash, British Airways is rolling back a cost-saving plan to swap the lunches served in its business and first-class cabins on long-haul flights. The UK’s flagship carrier had wanted to offer a simplified brunch menu of waffles, cheese frittatas or poaches eggs on flights leaving between 8:30 and 11:29 am, instead of serving options like grilled halibut, chicken Wellington or vegetarian korma. The complaints came fast and furious. [The Street]

Untouched meals account for 18% of in-flight waste

With airlines increasingly seeking to reduce food waste, it’s sobering to know that uneaten meals make up 18% of all waste during flights. That’s according to a recent study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which also found that food and beverage discard accounts for 65% of cabin and catering waste. The amount of airline food that ends up in the trash is motivating carriers to explore technology like AI to better meet consumer demands and reduce waste. [Business Traveller]

Royal Jordanian takes majority stake in catering company

As part of its strategy to maintain a leading position in the Middle East, Royal Jordanian Airlines increased its shares in Jordan Flight Catering Company to 51%. The move allows the airline to further invest in its operational excellence and service offerings. Jordan Flight will continue to be independently managed by dnata, providing world-class catering services to RJ and other airlines. [Aviator]

A word from our partner

Airlines face major challenges in coordinating in-flight catering, as miscommunication between teams can lead to loading errors, delays, and wasted resources. Many still rely on outdated systems like printed documents or emails, which make real-time collaboration difficult.

Modern in-flight catering software streamlines operations by improving communication, reducing errors, and ensuring that meal provisioning runs smoothly—saving both time and money.

IFCS Aviation Galley Planner is the easiest way to monitor and control the operational functions related to inflight catering, menu planning, and galley loading.

TECH CHECK

4 airline tech innovations to watch in 2025

It’s AI all the time as airlines leverage artificial intelligence to fundamentally shift how they interact with customers. These technologies promise to improve the air travel experience by offering AI-driven support throughout the journey, from booking to arrival, and beyond. Recently launched, Delta’s Concierge is an always on, AI-assisted chatbot that uses natural language to guide travelers with proactive assistance. [OAG]

How Swiss Airlines is delivering hyper-personalization at scale

Swiss Airlines is using a generative AI chatbot to create personalized experiences for its passengers, making travel feel more tailored than ever. By analyzing customer preferences, the airline can offer customized services, from travel inspiration to destination recommendations. This smart use of AI helps boost customer satisfaction and sets a new benchmark for personalization in the aviation industry. [CX Network]

The One Chart You Need to Know

This year is the year that airlines are expected to cross the $1 trillion milestone in terms of revenue, according to estimates by IATA. The number of passengers is also estimated to reach an all-time high of 5 billion in 2025. The average profit per passenger will jump to $7 from just $2.25 less than two years ago (Middle Eastern airlines lead the pack at $24 profit per customer). These numbers represent a giant post-pandemic comeback for the airline industry. [Yahoo! Finance]

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