Virgin Australia: New Business menus & Economy buy on board

The re-born Virgin Australia has had a chequered history in the food onboard department in its short 5-ish month life. There is the infamous pot-o-noodles incident in business class, and I can’t say I was particularly impressed with my business class snack pack recently.

‘New onboard menus have been introduced on all Virgin Australia flights from today to give customers more choice and better value.’

Virgin Australia media release

Business Class menu

In Business, the statements from Virgin are pretty brief and to the point. you food will be ‘fresh’, ‘local’ and ‘delicious’ served on ‘tableware’. Oh and . .

‘Promising high quality and simplicity, the new menu will rotate on a bi-monthly basis and comes with all-inclusive premium Australian wine and beer, plus soft beverages and spirits.

The new Business class experience also triggered a training refresh for the airline’s cabin crew, with new hospitality standards that focus on customer engagement allowing more time in the cabin with guests.’Virgin Australia media release

I’m not sure I would have used the word ‘triggered’ in any communication at the moment, but I’m glad the management speak of ‘customer engagement’ has shone through.

Its been promised for a while, so here it is:

Breakfast

Here is there breakfast menu including:

• Smashed avocado and crumbled feta on sourdough, served alongside Greek yoghurt with mango coulis, seasonal fresh fruit and a Danish pastry
• Ham and scrambled egg brioche roll with tomato relish, served alongside Greek yoghurt with mango coulis and seasonal fresh fruit
• Bircher muesli with cherry compote served with a Danish pastry

Lunch

• Pumpkin and prosciutto salad served with cheese and crackers and chocolate delight cake
• Turkey, brie and fig jam sourdough melt served with cheese and crackers
• Haloumi and quinoa salad served with cheese and crackers

Dinner

• Lamb and rosemary pie with a pumpkin and feta smash, antipasto plate with prosciutto, cheese & crackers and a chocolate delight cake
• Pumpkin and prosciutto salad served with cheese & biscuits
• Haloumi and quinoa salad served alongside an antipasto plate with marinated vegetables, cheese & crackers and a chocolate delight cake

Economy Buy-on-Board menu

Well there is a lot less to fanfare here, since Virgin is removing any free food and drink (bar water and tea/coffee) from Economy passengers. Instead, you get to pick something from this (no pictures) card:

Well you can still get those instant noodles they used to serve in Business class!

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

I do worry about this statement from the CEO:

“Our new Business Class menu and service design is high quality, relaxed, uncomplicated and exactly what our guests and team members have told us they want. I’m really proud of what we’ve delivered.

Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO

You see, to my mind, hospitality is more than that. It’s not just giving people what they want, but giving people the things they didn’t know they wanted until its presented to them. The statement from Jayne above makes it sound like they are delivering to the lowest common denominator. Am I being too harsh?

No famous chef attached to the product – no surprises there.

These are all good options, but is it just me or do they seem to lack the flair and generosity of the previous Luke Mangan fare? Or is it just the butter that makes it better?