Turkish Airlines has resumed their premium onboard dining and hot meal service, on all Business and Economy Class flights longer than two hours 15 minutes flight time. Turkish Airlines also mentioned their regular lounge food offering in Istanbul is also returning.
The global carrier offers a premium traveling experience and is world-renown for their cuisine and hospitality. In 2020 Turkish Airlines made some changes to meal services on flights, in line with additional coronavirus-related measures. I flew on Turkish Airlines in February this year and documented their changes onboard.
I have interviewed the Chairman of Turkish Airlines about their drastic cost cutting earlier in February and he promised to bring back the meals.
Turkish Airlines is now offering full premium menus prepared with fresh ingredients, in accordance with health and hygiene applications, courtesy of Turkish DO & CO.
Breakfast specialties:
- Honeycomb from Erzincan, “kaymak” clotted cream from Afyon, Anatolian style spicy pepper and tomato spread
- “Gözleme” Grilled Flat Pastry, stuffed with cheese and spinach
- Cheese and Tomato Omelette with sautéed mushrooms
- A selection of regional cheeses: aged cheese (Kars), “Ezine” (Çanakkale), with marinated Turkish olives, dried figs and apricots
Dinner specialties:
- Grilled Turkish Style Meatball, with sautéed zucchini and roasted red pepper bulgur pilaf
- Grilled Swordfish Brochette, with celeriac potato purée, Tuscan-style vegetables
- Traditional “Dolma” Varieties, minced beef stuffed vine leaves and zucchini and “Karniyarik,” eggplant with minced beef, tomato sauce and yogurt
- “Manti” Homemade Turkish Ravioli with minced beef, tomato sauce, yogurt
- Grilled Lamb Chopswith polenta crespelle and ratatouille
- Sea Bass en Papilotte and julienne vegetables
- “Karniyarik,” traditional stuffed eggplant with minced beef, buttered rice
- Grilled Chicken Brochette with grilled tomato and pepper bulgur pilaf
- Rigatoni with homemade Parmesan Tomato Sauce
Turkish Airlines also mentioned their regular lounge food offering in Istanbul is also returning.
Thanks again for all the reviews, I just flew back to back long-haul Business class flights with TK and was able to experience the new catering experience and sadly I have to say it was really underwhelming.
The meal service is as follows, you receive starters, salad (no dressing) and dessert served on sealed tray, paper napkin no hot towel. Then you receive the main course (I tried both the sea bass and the swordfish), they bring the silver paper wrapped plate and as expected it is tasteless and burning hot.
As far as beverages are concerned everything is served in 25cl individual containers (except water which confirms this is solely for cost cutting purposes). So drink offering has been downgraded to economy levels as well.
I have to add that the 787 business class is indeed claustrophobic but very confortable when you compare it to the outdated 777 (2-3-2) seats…
safe travels everyone!
Thanks for sharing the updated service offering of Turkish Airlines.
I am super excited that they have brought back their meal service. I have already booked Turkish Airlines from Canada and the US for my family and I in business to travel to Istanbul this year. Their business is like a first class. Love Turkish Airlines!!! Thanks Sam Chui for all the valuable tips you have shared with us, you are first class!!! I will be travelling on Qutar Airlines next year, all because of your videos, opening our eyes to different airlines to travel with, now my husband and I have a bucket list of airlines to fly with!!!
Beautifully done, Sam. My mouth is watering! for airline food!
Even though, I’ll never fly Turkish Airlines again. They’ve bad customer services leave alone the kind of cold and I believe, frozen sandwiches. Had to quarantine 2 extra days because of their bad customer services, call center in particular. They give you 1 hour of internet access at Istanbul Airport and expect you to buy extra hours while waiting for your flight to wherever you may be going. You can imagine, a poor country like Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan has 100% free WiFi in their airport, but not Turkey which is developed and an advance country.
that a really nice review. I follow all your youtube videos. This is the first time Im in your blog.