The Takeoff And Descent Of Airline Dining

History

The Takeoff And Descent Of Airline Dining By Khelil Bouarrouj Sept. 18, 2025 7:40 am EST

For the first commercial aircraft passengers, the average flight experience was extremely different from the trips we take today. For one thing, this initial era of flying was highly exclusive. Travel was not just long — it took 32 hours to fly coast to coast in the 1930s, with multiple refueling stops along the way — and super bumpy due to the low altitude, but prohibitively expensive for all except the affluent.

As air travel grew more affordable, many airlines improved their in-flight menus to accommodate a growing share of customers and as a way to distinguish their brand from competitors. Quality dining peaked during the initial era of mass travel, starting with the introducti