This Airline Now Offers Restaurant-Style Dining in the Sky—With On-Demand Ordering

Travel + Leisure

5 days ago

Dining above the clouds has rarely been a highlight of air travel, but one South Pacific airline is trying to change that.
Fiji Airways, the national carrier of the island nation, will now serve its onboard dining on demand, restaurant-style, allowing travelers to choose when and what they want to eat. The new, elevated service was recently introduced in business class along with an equally elevated menu on select long-haul flights, according to the carrier.
'Fijian hospitality is at the heart of what we do,' Andre Viljoen, the CEO and managing director of Fiji Airways, said in a statement. 'This next chapter elevates that promise. With the initial introduction of our new Pacific Rim menu and on-demand dining, we're delivering a fine-dining restaurant-quality experience in the sky... that is authentically Fijian, thoughtfully crafted, and aligned with the evolving needs of today's traveller.'
Viljoen added: "Through our strategic investments in our food, beverage, service training, and sustainable sourcing of materials, we're bringing that happiness in every journey.'
The initiative allows travelers to dine on their own schedule from a menu that draws on the culinary traditions of Fiji and the broader Pacific Rim with dishes like Fijian chicken curry, delicate hamachi crudo with octopus and ponzu, and kumquat cheesecake (which the airline says "packs a punch."). Dishes are plated and finished mid-air.
Meals are served on bone china, atop crisp white linens, with each table adorned with a handcrafted vau flower from Fiji. Wine pairings feature bottles from Australia, New Zealand, and California, while cocktails incorporate spirits distilled on the islands. For a treat, passengers can enjoy artisanal Fijian chocolate accompanying their tea or coffee—small details that nod to a broader ambition.
Even economy class passengers will notice upgrades to their own dining experience, including refreshed meal options, new snack and beverage offerings, and a selection of cocktails and mocktails. Special dietary requirements can always be pre-arranged.
While Fiji Airways' new Pacific Rim-inspired menus are being introduced on select long-haul flights for now, the airline said it expects the changes to be fully implemented across its network by July 2026.
Currently, Fiji Airways flies nonstop to several cities in the United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Honolulu. The airline is now a full member of the Oneworld Alliance along with carriers like American Airlines, allowing travelers to earn and redeem AAdvantage miles on flights and enjoy the benefits of their loyalty status when traveling.