Airline Food Prep

Airline meals have always been the center of attention for all kinds of reasons - especially for their quality. Earlier, the quality was hailed to be unpalatable. But now, with changing times, the quality of airline meals has improved.

Airline meals have always been looked at with suspicion. 'Cardboard Potatoes' and 'Mystery Meat' are some of the funny names people gave to the food items served on the fights. This however explains the condition of the food offered to the travelers. Today Airline catering business is growing at a fast pace and has become a million-dollar industry. With each day the number of people travelling by air is increasing, however if airline industry experience any downswing the first area that faces the budget cuts is the 'Airline Foods and Beverages.'

Decades back when the Airline Industry began to spread its wings, the food served was a hot multi-course meal that was actually cooked on the flights and travelers used to be seated at the dining tables to have their food. As time progressed, traffic in Airline Traveling increased and this led to the preparation of large amount of food. It was then decided to pre-prepare the meal and warm it when required. The food was only reassembled by this time.

Today, the tickets bought on the budget airlines do not include snacks and drinks on its purchase, not even drinking water. They have to be bought if required. However, the long-haul flights always include meals, like breakfast - snack - lunch - snack - dinner - snack. Generally, the standard full course meal served on Airplanes begin with appetizers with a bag of nuts or pretzels. After that, a tray full of salad along with the main course is handed out. The main course meal includes: Seafood and Meat for non-vegetarians and Vegetables, Pasta, Potato Rolls and Rice with Butter for vegetarians; and Asian Pickles and Custard and / or Fresh Fruits for Dessert. The meal is ended with tea and coffee as required along with crackers and cheese. The breakfast given out to the travelers constitutes Bread, Eggs, Potatoes or Bacon and Pastries.

The variety of food is based on the tickets purchased by the passenger. Meals for Business Class and Economy Class are separate. The food is served in supreme quality Cutlery and Bone China to the first class or the business class travelers.

However, there are many Airlines that serve excellent food and beverages to their Economy class passengers too, like Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, as well as Thai Airlines. Airlines such as Singapore Airlines provide their Business class travelers with five-star meals and Air New Zealand offers Wine with their meals. The quality of food has remarkably improved and has become the major attraction of the trade. The higher the price of the ticket the better the meals are served and with much variety.