Air Canada announced a major upgrade today to their in-flight dining and snack menus. The update sees Canada’s largest airline offering “100+ new rotating seasonal recipes showcasing bigger, bolder flavours alongside craveable new snacks and beverages”
As provided by Air Canada, here are highlights of the upgraded menus which have been created with their culinary partners Chef David Hawksworth, Chef Vikram Vij, and Chef Jérôme Ferre.
Economy Class Dining
International Economy travellers can excite their taste buds with new global flavours like red Thai chicken and rice, chicken cacciatore with roast potatoes and bell peppers. This adds to Chef Ferrer’s classic pesto penne on flights from Canada, and on longer flights that serve a hot breakfast, a new pancake and 100% pure Canadian maple syrup breakfast offering. On flights from Europe, travellers will enjoy new Monty’s Bakehouse savoury pastries, including coconut chicken and potato sour cream and chive. These refreshed recipes also add to regional appetizers like soba noodles, chaat, hummus and vegetables, and more, recently introduced on all international routes.
Air Canada’s upgraded Bistro menu, rolling out through spring 2024, boasts the most extensive selection of fresh buy-on-board options from any North American airline, with a hearty peppercorn roast beef sandwich, tasty cheeseburger sliders, and fresh new vegan options like Mediterranean hummus wraps. This is alongside a selection of alcoholic beverages unrivalled by any Canadian airline, including new premium crafted and Canadian-owned Tequila Tromba (all cabins in all markets, including Bistro) and iconic Campari (all premium cabins and Bistro).
Premium Class Dining
International travellers in Air Canada Signature Class can indulge in new dining options as diverse as the airline’s network, featuring exciting flavours from around the world. This includes succulent chicken thigh accompanied by mandi rice and Emirati bzar sauce, roasted salmon in teriyaki sauce with Shandong noodles and a Middle Eastern mezze plate appetizer, with more to come through spring 2024.
An array of fresh homegrown ingredients also shine among Air Canada’s latest lounge and in-flight offerings, including wild-caught Fogo Island cod, which returns to the Air Canada Signature Suite at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Sparkling wine connoisseurs will delight in new Champagnes selected by sommelier Véronique Rivest. Fresh bubbly pours include Haton Cuvée Classique and Duval-Leroy Brut Réserve on international flights, and Jaillance Brut Traditionnel, a Crémant de Bordeaux AOP of French “fines bulles”, on flights within North America and the Caribbean. Quebec-made Montellier sparkling water also debuts in premium cabins, while Canadian wines that are 100% Canadian grown and made, and spirits remain a fixture onboard and across lounges.
New Snacks and Teas
New nibbles have also arrived on all flights, including sweet, salty, and protein-packed options and Canadian favourites to make the journey even better. Buttery Herb and Garlic craft pretzels by family-owned and female-led TWIGZ from Alberta, are now complimentary in all cabins on North America flights shorter than two hours and economy cabins on international flights.
Also joining the snack basket line-up are tempting new choices like Sweet Sixteen original candy mix from Quebec, a protein top-up from Chomps grass-fed beef jerky and rich Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Squares with a lulscious sea salt caramel filling. These join fan favourites onboard, including Kit Kat, Miss Vickie’s, and Made Good. This expanded selection of snacks represents a range of gluten-free, vegan, kosher, halal suitable, keto and paleo-friendly choices that are now available in Air Canada Signature Class, Premium Economy, and flights to and from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Luxury tea purveyor Dilmah brings fresh, fragrant new blends that include Ceylon Earl Grey, Chamomile, Peppermint, Green, Lemon & Ginger and Orange Pekoe served in International and North America Business Class as well as Dilmah’sOrange Pekoe now brewed in Economy and Premium Economy cabins. In addition, specialty teas are available on select routes, including Jasmine (China), Chai (India), Brown Rice Green Tea (Korea), and Japanese Green Tea (Japan).
Pre-Order Expansion
Air Canada will also be expanding their meal pre-order service for premium cabin passengers during the course of this year. Flights within North America that feature Signature Class and Premium Economy will see the pre-order option added and international premium cabin’s pre-order will be expanded to include the ability to choose the second meal ahead of time.
Image via Air Canada