Summary:
- Emirates develops new farm-to-fork plant-based onboard dining concepts, focusing on minimally processed, whole foods to meet growing passenger demand for health-conscious and sustainable travel.
- New vegan dishes move beyond meat substitutes, drawing inspiration from plant-forward global cuisines to deliver authentic flavour, nutrition and transparency for passengers.
- Airline expands vegan offering to 488 recipes across 140 destinations, with half a million vegan meals served annually and continued growth driven by evolving passenger preferences.
As global consumers increasingly focus on nutrition, health and wellbeing with a back-to-basics approach of consuming minimally processed food, this Veganuary Emirates has announced it is developing new concepts to celebrate real, whole, and farm-to-fork plant foods. The current development project sees a team of chefs create dishes designed to feel authentic, vibrant and rooted in culinary tradition, without replacing typical proteins with engineered plant-based meats and substitutes. The new dishes are set to be onboard for customers in 2027.
âOur focus now is on legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and seasonal vegetables as the heroes of the plate,â said Emirates Vice President of Food & Beverage Design Doxis Bekris. âThese ingredients offer natural depth of flavour, texture, and nutrition without relying on ultra-processed alternatives. Instead of replicating meat, we want to draw from cuisines that have always been plant-forward like Mediterranean mezze, Levantine grain salads, Asian noodle bowls, and African stews. In our view this approach feels genuine and culturally rich. Although there are many commendable lab-based alternatives available, real food aligns with our sustainability goals and guest expectations for health-conscious choices. Itâs about transparency for our customers who want to know what theyâre eating, as well as have confidence that itâs good for them and the planet. We want to shift from substitutes to a celebration of plants, where itâs not about whatâs missing â but instead what is gained in authenticity, flavour, and creativity.â
Emirates now has 488 vegan recipes in rotation across 140 destinations, representing a 60% increase in total recipes from 2024. The airline currently serves half a million vegan meals each year and vegan meal consumption grows in line with passenger volume increases.
Vegan options are available to order and pre-order onboard, as well as in Emirates lounges. Customers can request vegan meals on all Emirates flights and across all classes of travel up to 24 hours before departure. Meanwhile, on high-demand routes, plant-based meals are also provided as part of the main menu options.
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