NARITA, Chiba: Japanese airlines have found success within the sale of in-flight meals for many who can’t fly overseas but need to savor them amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) has offered its meals on-line thrice since the final December so individuals can take pleasure in them at the house. All of its meals offered out within just a few days, and the airline plans to add a new dish to the menu on Jan. 26. Japan Airlines Co. (JAL), in the meantime, has been serving in-flight meals at a restaurant near Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, and in addition, began selling the fare overseas in January for the first time.
ANA offered the same kind of meals as these available in its international flights’ economy class twice in December 2020, and a total of 1,200 cases — or 14,400 meals — have been snapped up in a few days. An assortment of three kinds of the main dish for the New Yr and one other assortment of three kinds of local “donburi” rice bowl dishes went on sale on Jan. 18, and a total of two,000 sets — or 24,000 meals — have been sold out the next day. Analyzing the reason for their recognition, an ANA representative commented, “Clients need to take pleasure in an extraordinary experience of types that may be found on planes.”
ANA will begin selling Western and Japanese assortments of meals on Jan. 26. Each assortment contains 12 meals consisting of three kinds of dishes and is priced at 9,000 yen (about $87). The Western menu consists of hashed beef simmered with red wine, beef Hamburg steak with demi-glace sauce, and basil-flavored seafood simmered with tomato sauce. The Japanese menu consists of a bento of beef sukiyaki on rice, fried chicken and vegetables, and white-meat fish teriyaki.
As well, the airline is selling chicken curry served at special lounges for international flights at Narita, Haneda, and Kansai airports. The curry, with chunks of chicken and vegetables, has a light, homemade taste with a spicy aftertaste. ANA has additionally started selling dishes, cups, and plates for in-flight meals, and plans to also sell in-flight facilities together with bedclothes. By diversifying its business amid a decline in earnings it hopes to shore up its revenue.
JAL was the first to start out selling in-flight meals, serving them on the “Dinning Port Goryokaku” farm restaurant in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, from July 2020 before offering them at Roadside Station Tako Ajisai-kan within the neighboring city of Tako in December that yr. The airline can be selling meals at a restaurant at Chubu airport in central Japan. JAL’s beef curry, which has been served only on the lounges at Narita and Haneda airports and has a status as a unique and secret gem, went on sale online in August the same yr and was sold out in 4 months.
JAL’s Singaporean cabin attendants have introduced “furoshiki” wrapping cloths and “origami” folding paper to customers on the restaurant in order that they can touch Japanese tradition — a move that has been well received.
In the meantime, in-flight meal manufacturer Gate Gourmet Japan Ltd., based in Narita, started selling Western, Chinese, and Thai meals online in December 2020. A chef who supervises and cooks in-flight meals for first-class customers on abroad flights were involved in growing the items. Because the precooked meals are vacuum packed, purchasers can simply enjoy genuine airline course meals by boiling the packs.
