The food served on planes, once considered to be the bane of air traveling, has become a popular attraction for those who are unable to travel. Finnair started selling its ready-made Business Class meals at a Finnish grocery store last October.Menus will be rotated every two weeks and feature a unique fusion between Nordic and Japanese cuisines.The menu was launched with two main courses: smoked char and chanterelle rice, beef in teriyaki sauce with spring onions, and rice. Also, an appetizer of roasted carrots and blue cheese mousse topped with hazelnuts.Singapore Airlines held a pop-up on two Airbus A380s at Changi Airport earlier in the month.The demand was so great that both dinners were sold out within 30 minutes of reservations opening. Singapore Airlines then hosted two more meals.Tickets were categorized by cabin class, just like a flight.Four dining options were available: first class, business, premium economy, and economy. Prices ranged from $474 for a five-course meal in a private suite to $40 for an economy seat.Tamam Kitchens, which services Israel’s El Al Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and other international airlines flying out of Tel Aviv, began offering its low-cost meal delivery service to Israelis in July.In August, Tamam Kitchens reported around 100 orders a day.Thai Airways started selling meal boxes in April. These include entrees such as stir-fried tiger shrimp and beef cheeks with cumin sauce. Indonesia’s Garuda also offers its inflight meals on a tray.Qantas has put up catering carts that were part of its recently retired Boeing fleet for sale to frequent flyers who are looking for collectibles along with their meals.Qantas fans snapped up the carts in a flash; Business Insider reported that 1,000 coaches had been sold within two hours.The coaches were filled with mini-bottles of wine, champagne, candy, Business Class amenity kit, throw blankets, and first-class pajamas.These initiatives may have been designed as a temporary solution to the faltering airline industry, but they also point out a continuing development in airline dining.In-flight food has evolved from microwaved meals to gourmet options that people would choose even when grounded.
