If you are a foodie, you must fly with Air India. After a long wait, you will get to binge-eat at 35,000 feet – some of the familiar dishes cooked in Indian kitchens and popular as street food across India. Mysore Masala Dosa, Podi Idli with Sambar, Upma, Besan Chilla, North Indian Poori with Sabji, Chicken Tikka, Malabar Chicken Curry, Palak Kofta, Masala Khichdi, Masala Tea…and a lot more with international blends have found space in Air India’s new menu for international flights. I must say Air India is all set to pamper your taste buds and care for your wellness this holiday travel season.
Air India is progressively rolling out its new menu in all cabins across it global network, including India to USA, London, Australia and other destinations. The launch timing could not better than now, as the winter holiday season is peaking up and the competition is heating up between airlines. Recently, Qatar Airways roped in celebrity chef Garima Arora to design an Ayurveda-inspired vegetarian menu for flights to India. In mid-2025, Singapore Airlines introduced traditional Indian thalis for premium guests. Evidently, quality inflight food is more than a luxury these days.
What’s in new menu for Air India flights from USA to India?
You should ask what’s not there in the new inflight menu designed by Chef Sandeep Kalra. With signature dishes from Delhi’s street food, Lucknow’s Awadhi cuisine, South India’s breakfast platter, and north Indian households, Air India’s new menu mirrors the diverse culinary fabric of India.
While the South Indian platter is common to all routes and all travel classes, passengers are treated to traditional stuffed paratha, fruit yogurt, kale spinach kiwi smoothie, and Turkish eggs in breakfast on business class flights from New Delhi to USA and other countries. The new menu features smoked chicken avocado salad, Murgh Mussallam, Awadhi Paneer Anjeer Pasand, Masala Dal Khichdi, and Shahi Moong Dal Halwa in the main course for business class flyers on all nonstop Air India flights from India to USA, Canada, Dubai, London, and Australia.
Regardless of Air India fare types – Value and Classic, economy class flyers can savour home-style Indian comfort food in both veg and non-veg segments of the new menu. Kadhai Chicken, Jeera Pulao, Amritsari Dal, Rajasthani Kadhi Pakodi, Jeera Rice, and Gobi Mutter ki Sabji will give you a fulfilling sense of warmth and cosiness aboard Air India flights from Mumbai to San Francisco, New York, London, Sydney, and Singapore. You can choose to have South Indian breakfast or a north Indian platter of poori and kale chane rasedar with sooji halwa in Economy Class and Premium Economy.
Who is Chef Sandeep Kalra, the maker of Air India’s new menu?
After having worked with Bollywood’s favourite designer Manish Malhotra for the cabin crew’s brand new look, Air India roped in Sandeep Kalra as corporate chef to elevate inflight dining experience. Chef Sandeep Kalra, Director of Culinary at Accor, has added several feathers in his cap over two decades of culinary innovation while holding high-profile positions, from The Ritz-Carlton to Hotel Trident. Known for creating magic for diverse palates, Chef Kalra’s ‘new Air India menu’ for overseas Indians and foreign citizens of Indian origin is reflective of their love for homemade food, their nostalgia for childhood days’ street food, their sweet tooth for traditional Indian desserts, and their cravings for international fares.
Air India is now offering 18 special meal types
Air India has also started offering 18 special meal types, including vegan, on select international routes, with other routes to have the same in phases. With Air India adding a vegan meal to inflight dining, Emirates Airlines is no longer the only carrier to serve vegan food on board. While or after booking Indian Eagle deals for Air India flights, you can select a meal according to your lifestyle and dietary preference. You can not only pre-select a meal of your choice, but also pass on your allergen information and preferred customization through our customer support helpline or your user account on IndianEagle.com.
I travelled in Air India in feb and did not see any of the above . The flight was delayed by 11 hours , the business class seats were mediocre ( note , the price is same as Emirates ) and inspite of a informing the folks of my surgery we were made to wait in the airport for 11 hours without proper updates . There were kids and parents struggling and after a lot of complaining water and food was given to those . The overall experience was sad and mismanaged . Our luggages were checked in and weren’t given saying there was a technical issue . I reached US in the middle of the night struggling to get home . Honestly I don’t see the advertisement for Air India being apt . I admire and feel proud of Mr Tata but the airlines has a long way to go to come to the standard shown in your picture above .
Hi Sindhu! The new menu was rolled out in the first week of April 2023.
Wow, I’m sure that fantastic menu would have helped him bear with the 11 hour wait – just close eyes and imagine all the great food that will be coming…in about 11 hours.
When Vistara and Air India merged I was hoping that Air India will adopt Vistara’s amazing food menu, unfortunately Air India yet to Introduce great food on board as well as professionalism to travelers