Generally, in-flight vegan meals may be severely disappointing. In 2023, for instance, one passenger flew on Kenya Airways for six hours, solely to obtain a bit of fruit and a few nuts. In 2022, one Air Canada buyer claimed they have been solely given a bottle of water. These are excessive examples, however there have been many cases over time the place plant-based or vegetarian passengers have been given subpar dishes.
Most of us can agree: watching the meal cart inch nearer, solely to obtain a disappointing dish, is a small let down we’d all fairly skip. However excellent news: that is unlikely to occur in case you’re flying with Emirates.
Emirates
Yearly, the United Arab Emirates-based airline serves greater than 400, 000 plant-based meals on greater than 140 completely different flight routes. At the moment, it presents greater than 300 completely different vegan recipes. Overlook the fruit and nuts; on Emirates, you’ll be feasting on all the things from vegan curry to Past Meat. And shortly, perhaps vegan eggs, too.
Emirates takes vegan in-flight meals to the subsequent degree
In honor of Veganuary—the month-long marketing campaign designed to encourage individuals to surrender animal-based meals for January—the Emirates Flight Catering Idea has been engaged on new plant-based dishes for the airline.
One of many dishes the cooks have been engaged on is their very own strong vegan egg made with legumes, which they workshopped in a shakshuka dish. In addition to the egg, the catering idea created a brand new vegan cannelloni dish with egg-free pastry.
“Refined vegan delicacies is a vital consideration at Emirates, as numbers of vegan prospects proceed to rise globally, and lots of non-vegan prospects go for vegan delicacies when flying, as a lighter choice is usually thought of simpler to digest,” reads a press launch from the airline. “Emirates continues to increase its portfolio of vegan delicacies by workshopping new dishes made with progressive components.”
A number of the meals on the airline’s pattern menu for financial system embody crêpes, curried vegetable puffs, and chocolate mousse cake. In enterprise class, passengers can anticipate meals like Thai crimson curry with tofu and chocolate pecan cake, whereas first-class choices embody creamy polenta cake, rhubarb tempered with strawberry charlotte, and heat chocolate fondant. For espresso and tea, it additionally presents vegan milk choices.
Emirates just lately started providing vegan choices for kids, too, a transfer the airline believes “highlights its dedication to culinary excellence for all prospects.” The youngsters’ meals embody vegan pizza, vegan muffins, vegetable fajitas, and cauliflower bites.
Emirates
California plant-based meat model Past Meat, darkish chocolate model Linnolat, and tofu model Qian Ye are just some of the businesses that Emirates works with to create its in depth plant-based meal choice. Its leafy inexperienced produce additionally comes from Bustanica, a 330,000-square-foot hydroponic vertical farm in Dubai that it acquired in 2024.
Emirates passengers can even discover vegan choices in its Dubai airport lounges. In accordance with the airline, whereas it presents many various plant-based decisions like spiced kofta and salads, the most well-liked dish within the lounges is its personal signature Emirates Inexperienced Burger, which is made with soy and flaxseeds.
Extra airways improve their vegan choices
“Emirates has all the time taken satisfaction in our ‘Fly Higher’ promise to exceed buyer expectations and ship an distinctive journey expertise,” an Emirates spokesperson informed VegNews final yr. They added: “The growth of our vegan menu is only one instance of how we show to our prospects that we hear and are desirous to accommodate their evolving wants.”
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In additional excellent news, Emirates isn’t alone. American Airways, for instance, serves vegan meals like grilled eggplant caponata, whereas United Airways beforehand partnered with Unattainable Meals on a few of its meatless mains. You’ll find our information to 11 airways serving up plant-based meals right here.
For extra plant-based tales like this, learn:
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and author based mostly in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.