Air Canada will refresh its meal service onboard in all cabins of service with new menus and an expanded pre-order program.
Menu Refresh Coming To Air Canada
Air Canada is introducing “100+ new rotating seasonal recipes showcasing bigger, bolder flavors alongside craveable new snacks and beverages.”
Premium Cabin Dining
New menu choices are coming this spring that offer new tastes and add friendly options for vegetarian guests. Examples include:
- chicken thigh accompanied by mandi rice and Emirati bzar sauce
- roasted salmon in teriyaki sauce with Shandong noodles
- Middle Eastern mezze plate appetizer
Air Canada is also doubling down on meal service on shorter flights (unlike its other North American competitors), with meals on flights under two hours including:
- warm flatbread with arugula
- chicken tenders with coleslaw
- cobb salad
- charcuterie and cheese plates
As for sparkling wine, we will see the following choices onboard:
- Haton Cuvée Classique and Duval-Leroy Brut Réserve – international flights
- Jaillance Brut Traditionnel – flights within North America and the Caribbean
Wild-caught cod from Fogo Island will also return to the Signature Suite in Toronto, one of my favorite lounges in the world which I reviewed here.
> Read More: Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto (YYZ) Review
Economy Class Dining
New flavors are coming to international economy class, including:
- Thai chicken and rice
- chicken cacciatore with roast potatoes and bell peppers
- pancakes with pure Canadian maple syrup (on longer flights that include a hot breakfast prior to arrival)
This will augment the recent addition of new appetizers including:
- soba noodles
- chaat
- hummus and vegetables
On flights within North America and the Caribbean, Air Canada will offer an expanded buy-on-board menu, including:
- peppercorn roast beef sandwich
- cheeseburger sliders
- Mediterranean hummus wraps
Alcohol selection will also be expanded to include Canadian-owned Tequila Tromba and Campari (Negronis, yay!).
Scott O’Leary, Vice President, Loyalty & Product at Air Canada, explained:
“We’re incredibly proud to introduce these delicious new dining options, featuring homegrown Canadian products and ingredients reflecting the diversity of Canada and our customers’ tastes and preferences. The thought and care we’ve brought to elevating our menus, and bringing fresh new flavors for all, is one of the many ways we’re investing in every aspect of our customers’ journey to make travel even better.”
My favorite feature of the Air Canada buy-onboard menu is that you can purchase leftover business class meals in economy class. I’d love to see the option to pre-order this (like on SAS) and I would pay a premium to do so.
> Read More: Air Canada’s Genius Meal Service Concept
More Tea Onboard
Air Canada will introduce more tea onboard, including a wide section from Dilmah in its premium cabins:
- Ceylon Earl Grey
- Chamomile
- Peppermint
- Green
- Lemon & Ginger
- Orange Pekoe
Dilmah’s Orange Pekoe’s also available in economy and premium economy class.
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 Service Expanding
Finally, Air Canada will expand its pre-order meal program to include flights within North America, starting with fights offering Signature Class (business class) and premium economy cabins. Later this year, the pre-order program will allow passengers in premium cabins to pre-select their second meal choice on international flights.
CONCLUSION
There’s a running joke that the Air Canada parsley omelet has not changed in decades (I happen to love it). But fresh menu choices and more variety are coming to Air Canada. I’ll reserve final judgment until I taste the new dishes (I think the food is very decent already), but I appreciate the variation and the expansion of catering choices, even in economy class.
image: Air Canada
Scott O’Leary, there’s a name that goes back to the CO days; must be taking a page out of “meals at mealtimes” if they are widening the meal windows. Meanwhile over at UA they have increased the mileage window for meals in F and the improvements have been minimal with a few menu changes, but still a subpar premium product.
The running joke is not the omelette, its the airline itself.
Lowest on time performance in North America, deflating business class seats, zero customer service or service recovery in case of (inevitable) IRROPS. And a phone line that doesnt answer.
This is the literal definition of lipstick on a pig
Anna agree with you though once you hit SE100k you are generally treated like royalty, good luck for anyone else. Been SE100k for several years and they keep me coming back because even with IROPS they take care of me very well, I’ve never been high and dry. Several instances recently where they have rebooked me on competing airlines, met me at the gate with new boarding passes or hotel tickets, proactively called me to warn of a change or IROPS issue. But do agree, anything less than SE100k you are left to rot which sucks for everyone else.
$20000 of (very likely OPM) buys SE. Thats a high price to pay to make AC not suck.,,,
No Poutine, Tourtéire or maple taffy. Seriously?
Come on you know AC is like the Canadian govery: all about diversity. Forget about Canadian (and Québécois) culture!!
What an ignorant comment.
Canadians seem to HATE Air Canada, but as a flyer based south of the border, it just seems so much better than what we have to deal with.
Apparently, they do. Their leading satire program This Hour Has 22 Minutes uses Air Canada as a frequent target, including in this week’s episode, where they made fun (in a rather accurate fashion) of zone boarding (if an American comedy series did this with Delta, they wouldn’t have to change the script one bit). Of course, 22 Minutes doesn’t hold back on other Canadian shibboleths like Tim Horton’s and Canadian Tire, so they’re in good company.
Air Canada continues to impress me when I fly them (granted its to some very ‘remote’ places, and some occasional long flying). It just floors me that AC will offer a full beverage service AND plated snack in Business Class on a CRJ 900 flying between Seattle & Vancouver, while Alaska/Delta/SkyWest/Horizon FAs stay in their seats – a few of my Alaska flights we’ve been given a beverage on the ground, and I think 1 of my Horizon flights, we got a “quickie” drink service in First.
When did they use CR9 on YVR-SEA? It has always been the DH3/DH4.
Air Canada is my regular ride, my last flight YVR to LHR the business class meal was terrible but I love the business class seat and they do not lock the front washroom in business class. I wish they would improve the second meal on transatlantic flights from Europe, please get rid of the cold snack as a second meal, cold cuts and a Kit Kat could be improved, other airlines KLM/Air France/ Lufthansa offer a hot meal
I’d fly air Canada any day over westjet
People only fly AC because
a) they sell cheap tickets ex usa
b) they have no choice in Canada
Garbage airline, agree with lipstick on pig
I’d be happy just to see a different option in business class offered more frequently besides the parsley omelette…