Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will start to offer a wider range of main courses on flights under three and a half hours from next month, providing customers with a greater variety of local Singaporean and international favourites on these routes as part of its new Economy Class meal concept.
At first, the new presentation might take some getting used to, but we have to applaud the change, which mirrors a move SAS took a while ago. This isn’t just about presentation though. Now more than 40 new dishes will be available on rotation on different flights, including Singaporean favourites such as congee, laksa, and gravy-rich mee siam that were previously not available in Economy Class.
The new dining concept will mirror the myriad of options available in Business and First Class and reflecting the post-Covid changes we predicted regarding giving more to passengers now, rather than stripping elements away from them.
Customers can now enjoy these meals after SIA replaced its historic plastic casserole service ware with a new packaging solution, consisting of a leak-proof box and cup made of Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, a dessert box and a cutlery pack made of bamboo with a paper wrap. The unique box can hold the same amount of food as the casserole but is deeper and more secure, allowing it to retain gravy and soupy dishes without any seepage. It is also oven-safe and resistant to overheating, ensuring that food quality is preserved even after reheating.
The new meal concept was developed jointly by SIA and SATS, the Airline’s Singapore-based catering partner. After a study into potential pain points and areas of improvement in the short-haul in-flight experience, and following months of research and development, the companies designed a box that is both versatile and eco-friendly, and yet also enhances taste, variety and meal quality.
This will also reduce the amount of single-use plastics, including cups and polybags for cutlery, on the meal tray by 80 per cent by weight. Leftovers on the tray, including the new service ware, will be brought back to Singapore, sent to an eco-digester at SATS, and converted into pellets that can be used as refuse-derived fuel, a source of energy that can replace fossil fuel and coal. The onsite processing of waste reduces approximately 60 per cent of catering waste and further reduces emissions from transportation to the incinerator. In addition, the use of lighter paperware helps to reduce fuel consumption on flights.
This will also reduce the amount of single-use plastics, including cups and polybags for cutlery, on the meal tray by 80 per cent by weight. Leftovers on the tray, including the new service ware, will be brought back to Singapore, sent to an eco-digester at SATS, and converted into pellets that can be used as refuse-derived fuel, a source of energy that can replace fossil fuel and coal. The onsite processing of waste reduces approximately 60 per cent of catering waste and further reduces emissions from transportation to the incinerator. In addition, the use of lighter paperware helps to reduce fuel consumption on flights.
Mr Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Singapore Airlines, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer a greater variety and quality of meals on our short-haul flights, including selections from Singapore’s popular local favourites that we hope both Singaporeans and international customers will find familiar and comforting. This is part of our continuous efforts to enhance the customer experience while keeping sustainability at the forefront of our operations.”
Mr Kerry Mok, CEO Food Solutions, SATS, said: “Developing eco-friendly packaging solutions that can improve quality of food has to take into consideration various challenges unique to the preparation of aviation meals. We are pleased to lend our culinary expertise and knowledge of food and packaging technology to collaborate with SIA to transform the travel experience.”
The Big Dining Picture
TheDesignAir 