Emirates adds 300 plant-based options to flight menu as demand skyrockets

Source: article https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/

Major airline Emirates now boasts a rotation of 300 plant-based recipes in its ‘vegan vault’. Here’s what passengers can expect on board…Emirates is getting on board with vegan meals like never before.

The major airline, which is based in the UAE, recently revealed it is adding more vegan options for passengers after noticing an impressive surge in demand.

Currently, Emirates offers a staggering 300 plant-based meals on rotation in what it describes as its ‘vegan vault’. After serving more than 450,000 cruelty-free meals last year (an increase from 280,000 in 2022) it has decided to ramp up its vegan dining.

Vegan meal consumption has grown 40 per cent year on year in line with passenger volumes, with some regions such as Africa exceeding passenger volume growth. The airline says Cabin Crew members are also embracing plant-based diets, as more internal staff opt for the meat-free options.

Emirates’ vegan options

Emirates’ plant-based meals are available in all four classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First.

In Economy, flyers can enjoy dishes including a chickpea crepe, pumpkin frittata, tofu tikka masala, and a chickpea kale stew. Desserts include a coconut mousse with mango compote, banana cake with chocolate crumble, and a chocolate pudding with ‘cocoa soil’.

In premium economy, dishes available include a jackfruit curry, a squash and chestnut stew, as well as a chocolate tofu cheesecake and raspberry parfait.

For business class flyers, there’s a roasted cauliflower with ancient grains, Asian tofu and shitake mushroom with glass noodles, and much more. A more gourmet offering is available for those flying First class, including a creamy polenta cake with thyme mushroom ragout and sautéed spinach.

‘Rapidly gaining popularity’

“Emirates has been serving vegan meals since the 1990s. Initially, vegan requirements were focused on specific routes such as Addis Ababa where vegan meals are required during certain times of the year by those practising the Ethiopian Orthodox faith, or across regions where multiple faiths encourage a plant-based diet,” the airline said.

“Over recent years however, vegan dishes have been rapidly gaining popularity on US, Australian, some European and Asian routes, with Emirates noting a sizeable increase in interest in vegan dishes over the last decade.”

The airline debuted a gourmet vegan menu back in 2022, which was exclusively offered to First and Business Class flyers.