In an era where the act of travel is as much about the journey as the destination, commercial airlines are increasingly recognising the power of culinary excellence to elevate the passenger experience.
Particularly for First Class and Business Class passengers, the days of disappointing in-flight meals and lacklustre dining are long gone; a new wave of airline partnerships with globally acclaimed restaurants is transforming the skies into a gourmet haven.
From Michelin-starred collaborations to iconic American comfort food, and indulgent desserts, these airline-restaurants offerings are not just about filling stomachs, but about crafting memorable dining moments at altitude, proving that the art of fine dining knows no bounds, even at 35,000 feet.
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Duddell's - Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific has collaborated with Michelin-starred Duddell's since February 2023, serving First Class and Business Class passengers a menu of "authentic Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties...". Available on select long-haul flights departing from Hong Kong, the menu was refreshed in March 2025, with the new and updated "Hong Kong Flavours" menu now including dishes such as sautéed chicken and abalone in a Sichuan pepper sauce, and braised beef ribs with port wine, alongside comforting desserts like tofu pudding with red bean. Upgrading traditional comfort food dishes to fine-dining, in-flight fare, this collaboration showcases Duddell's dedication to sourcing exceptional ingredients and employing time-honoured cooking techniques. To counteract the challenges of high-altitude dining, where taste buds are dulled, dishes have been carefully designed with enhanced flavours, ensuring that passengers experience the best of Hong Kong's culinary heritage even at 30,000 feet.
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Yat Tung Heen - Cathay Pacific
To bring the rich tastes of Hong Kong to more passengers, Cathay Pacific has expanded its "Hong Kong Flavours" initiative to Premium Economy and Economy cabins through a new partnership with Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen. Introducing authentic Cantonese dishes crafted by Chef Tam Tung, bringing the restaurant's acclaimed flavours to passengers flying from Hong Kong. While facing the challenges of high-volume meal production and in-flight reheating, Yat Tung Heen and Cathay Pacific's culinary teams have meticulously adapted signature dishes and classic Hong Kong staples, such as braised beef brisket and sweet and sour pork, to ensure they retain their flavour and appeal in-flight. The menu features carefully curated appetisers and main courses, including chilled marinated cherry tomatoes and stir-fried seafood with XO sauce, demonstrating a shared dedication to authenticity and quality across all cabins.
Shake Shack - Delta Airlines
Shake Shack's iconic cheeseburger has taken to the skies, forging a unique partnership with Delta that brings the beloved burger joint's flavours to First Class passengers. Initially launched only on select flights departing from Boston in late 2024, the collaboration was met with resounding success, prompting Delta to expand the offering to flights over 900 miles from Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, and Seattle which started on March 4, 2025. The in-flight Shake Shack experience includes a 100% Angus beef patty topped with cheese on a toasted potato bun, with the option to customise with signature toppings like tomato, lettuce, and the famed and secret ShackSauce, all served on the side. This partnership not only provides passengers with a familiar and much-loved dining option at 35,000 feet but also highlights Delta's dedication to partnering with popular brands to enhance the overall in-flight experience.
Jon & Vinny's - Delta Airlines
Jon & Vinny's is a beloved Los Angeles culinary hotspot, and in April 2024, the relaxed, authentic Italian restaurant opened its first location in Riyadh. And now, the much-loved diner has cemented its place in Delta's in-flight dining experience; most notably the restaurant's braised meatballs in a Bianco DiNapoli marinara sauce. This partnership was originally initiated in 2017, and ever since, the classic dish has become a staple dish on the Delta menu, consistently lauded by First Class and Delta One passengers. The meatball-pasta dish is served with garlic bread and rich ricotta, and is so popular that Delta has expanded the offering to select routes originating from West and Southwest airports, including Anchorage to Austin for First Class, and Delta One flights from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG), Minneappolis-Saint Paul (MSP), Los Angeles International (LAX), Orlando (MCO), Portland (PDX), Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Tampa (TPA), reflects the airline's commitment to providing passengers with consistently high-quality, regionally inspired dining.
Din Tang Fung - EVA Air
Since the early 2000s, EVA Air has been aiming to elevate its in-flight dining experience by offering passengers in Royal Laurel and Laurel Class cabins the opportunity to savour signature dishes from the renowned Taiwanese restaurant, Din Tai Fung. Now famous around the world, and with locations across the UAE and the rest of the world, Din Tai Fung has recently experienced a surge in guests wanting to try its famous dishes due to a number of viral social media videos. This unique airline-restaurant partnership allows travellers on select long-haul routes originating from Taipei to North American destinations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, and Vancouver, as well as regional flights to Japan, to indulge in culinary delights such as juicy Xiao Long Bao Soup Dumplings, Braised Beef Noodle Soup, and Noodles with House Special Spicy Shrimp Wontons. Complete with traditional side dishes and sweet treats like Suzhou-Style Mooncake and Honey and White Fungus Sweet Soup, this collaboration brings the coveted Din Tai Fung experience to 35,000 feet, offering a seamless and luxurious dining option for discerning First Class travellers.
Magnolia Bakery - United Airlines
United Airlines has distinguished itself as the first and only commercial airline to offer Magnolia Bakery's world-renowned and classic Banana Pudding to its passengers, bringing a taste of the beloved New York bakery to the skies. However, this delicious and decadent in-flight dessert is only available to United First passengers on flights exceeding 901 miles; on these flights passengers can enjoy individual servings of Magnolia Bakery's Banana Pudding with Wafer Cookie Bits, a dessert crafted with real bananas and inspired by their world-famous recipe. This unique partnership, made possible by Magnolia Bakery's new frozen-to-thaw product line, allows travellers to experience the iconic treat at 30,000 feet, marking a significant milestone for both the airline and the bakery as they aim to elevate the in-flight dining experience.
