In-flight meals now available for home delivery

Some Asian airlines are selling plane food to home consumers, hoping to recoup some of their COVID-related losses

Spotted: As part of an exercise in shifting stock and recouping a small portion of lost income, a number of Asian airlines now offer in-flight meals for home delivery. Thai Airways, Air Asia, Garuda and Cathay Pacific are some of the companies who have pivoted into domestic retail during the coronavirus pandemic. Customers missing their experiences of flying can now buy a range of meals priced from around €3.37 to €7.80 for individual meals. The dishes include quiches, prawns, lamb chops, beef and rice.

Santan, AirAsia’s catering partner, opened two restaurants in Kuala Lumpur in December 2019, allowing customers in the city to find their favourites even when not at home. Australians pining for the skies have the choice of the extensive menus of Snapfresh and Gate Gourmet. Gate Gourmet sells bulk packs of microwave-ready frozen meals, and diners pick up their order in either Brisbane or Sydney.

Tourism has been devastated by this year’s global changes in travel restrictions and national quarantines. Springwise has spotted innovators rising to the challenge in numerous ways, from domestic sightseeing flights to virtual tourism that allows visitors to control the route taken by their local guides.