2 October 2023
Fall is underway, and Virgin Atlantic is the latest airline to celebrate the season by rolling out new menus across all cabins.
The new offerings, which launch Oct. 4, include more plant-based and vegetarian meals, along with more “wellness” drinks like matcha, sparkling tea and kombucha. Passengers flying in Virgin’s Economy Delight class — a fare class within the economy cabin — now also have the option to pre-order meals, like passengers in Upper Class and Premium.
“We’re delighted to introduce our new onboard menu, marking the return of the season that makes our customers crave some winter sun,” Corneel Koster, Virgin’s chief customer and operating officer, said in a statement. “At Virgin Atlantic, we’re always looking to create memorable moments onboard, which is why we strive to offer an unmatched, contemporary and extensive selection of dishes across our cabins.”
Here is a breakdown of some of the new additions:
Upper Class
Snacks: Savoursmiths bubbly and serrano chilli chips, Yumma peach flavored gummy sweets, Creative Nature blueberry muffin bar, LoveRaw vegan caramelized biscuit bars and more options.
Breakfast (new a la carte menu): “Build your own breakfast” that includes a selection of yogurt, fresh fruit, pastries and cereal; an “express breakfast” that’s served 40 minutes before landing has a bacon roll or a warmed pastry.
Lobster, clam and calamari paella with saffron and paprika rice. VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Lunch/dinner: Stilton and walnut salad with bacon and date relish; grilled barbecue chicken with corn mac and cheese; lobster, clam and calamari paella with saffron and paprika rice; golden beetroot tartare with candy beet; vegan Dijonnaise, toasted fava beans and tarragon and sweetie drops; creamy shiitake mushroom soup; and four cheese agnolotti pasta with creamy tomato sauce, roasted butternut squash, kale and shaved vegetarian Parmesan.
Four cheese agnolotti pasta with creamy tomato sauce, roasted butternut squash, kale and shaved vegetarian Parmesan. VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Premium
Snacks: Savoursmiths bubbly and serrano chilli chips, Yumma peach flavored gummy sweets, Creative Nature blueberry muffin bar, LoveRaw vegan caramelized biscuit bars, along with more options.
Lunch/dinner: Chicken lasagne; sage and thyme pork stew; panko-coated tofu with katsu vegetable curry and a British cheese plate with vintage cheddar, Blacksticks Blue cheese, fig jelly and grapes with olive oil and sea salt crackers.
Economy Delight
Snacks: Walker’s shortbread fingers, vanilla Oreos, Cadbury mini fingers and Penn State sour cream and chive pretzels.
Lunch/dinner: Chicken, leek and tarragon casserole and creamy spinach and butternut pasta; meals also include Cathedral City cheddar and crackers and a Pots & Co plant-based chocolate pot.
Economy
Snacks: Walker’s shortbread fingers, vanilla Oreos, Cadbury mini-fingers and Penn State sour cream and chive pretzels.
Bottom line
Virgin’s new offerings give passengers more flexibility when it comes to ordering meals for those longer-haul flights. It especially caters to those who may want to limit their meat intake or are vegetarian.