Qatar Airways has added a full choice of vegan meals to its a la carte Business Class menu after witnessing an ever-increasing demand for plant-based food choices. Unlike many other airlines, the Doha-based carrier has continued to offer a full hot meal service onboard its flights amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with only a few minor changes to mitigate the risk of virus transmission.
While vegan meals have been offered on request and with at least 24-hours notice for many years, this will be the first time that vegan customers, along with anyone else fancying a healthier plant-based option can order off the standard menu.
Sample dishes include:
- Smoked moutabel, spiral courgettes and arrabbiata sauce
- tofu and spinach tortellini
- fried tofu with vegetable tajine
- cauliflower couscous and kalamata bruschetta
- and chickpea flour omelette
The growing popularity of veganism has slowly been transferred to aeroplane food, with low-cost operator Norwegian reporting a 7 per cent increase in vegan food orders between January 2018 and January 2019.
Perhaps unsurprisngly, vegan meals were most popular on Norwegian’s long-haul flights between London and Los Angeles. Oakland, near San Francisco, was the second-most popular flight for vegan meals, although customers flying to destinations in Florida were far less keen for plant-based meal options.
Buenos Aires, however, proved to be the least popular route for vegan meals.
“We always strive to provide our customers with authentic and indulgent experiences in the skies,” commented Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar Al Baker.
“We are delighted to incorporate a vegan main course choice to our on-board menu, offering our passengers yet another lifestyle choice that redefines the expectations from a five-star airline.”
For now, however, vegan choices are only available for Business Class passengers flying from the airline’s hub in Doha, as well as select flights to Qatar. Economy passengers can continue to pre-order vegan meals, as well as a selection of other special dietary and religious meals.
