Singapore Airlines overhauls in-flight dining with new menu category, Christofle tableware

Singapore Airlines is rolling out a sweeping overhaul of its in-flight dining across all cabin classes, covering menus, wines, spirits and tableware. The revamp introduces more than 100 new and refreshed dishes and brings custom-designed porcelain created with French tableware brand Christofle onto its aircraft.

The airline announced Thursday the creation of "SIA Chef's Selection," a new in-flight dining category, alongside a phased renewal of its menus, beverages and serviceware.

SIA Chef's Selection will feature dishes developed by the airline's in-house chefs and guest chefs in collaboration with catering partners. The lineup spans more than 100 items across all cabin classes — appetizers, main courses and desserts — ranging from regional signature dishes and reinterpreted classics to original creations.

Ingredients will draw on locally sourced, seasonal produce where possible, and cooking methods have been tailored dish by dish to preserve flavor at altitude and in the cabin environment.

Guest chefs contributing to the program include Monica Galetti of the United Kingdom, Nandu Jubany of Spain, Sanjeev Kapoor of India, Sid Sahrawat of New Zealand, Murata Yoshihiro of Japan and Zhu Jun of China. Menus developed by each chef, drawing on their own culinary heritage and signature dishes, will be offered on select routes.

"Every dish in SIA Chef's Selection carries the expertise and know-how of both our in-house and guest chefs," said Damien Le Vian, Singapore Airlines' director of food and beverage. "Our goal is to deliver the high standard of differentiated in-flight dining experience that our customers expect."

The beverage program is also being expanded. An expert panel and in-house team at the airline have curated a selection covering Champagne, wine, cocktails, whisky, gin, vodka, sake, beer, coffee and tea.

First Class passengers will be served Champagnes including Krug Grande Cuvée, Louis Roederer Cristal and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne. Business and Premium Economy classes will each receive wines and Champagnes suited to their respective cabins.

Suites and First Class will gain an exclusive blended whisky produced for Singapore Airlines by the Komoro Distillery in Japan. Business Class passengers will have access to new offerings including Bowmore 19-Year Pinot Noir Cask Finish single malt whisky, Roku Botanical Kasane Edition gin and Danzka Forty vodka.

Tableware and table settings in premium cabins are also being redesigned. Singapore Airlines will become the first airline to introduce Christofle porcelain tableware on board.

The custom pieces, created exclusively for Suites, First and Business Class, reinterpret Singapore Airlines' batik motifs through the lens of Christofle's "Malmaison Impérial" collection. First Class pieces feature a more delicate pattern, while Business Class tableware carries a bolder design.

Dedicated glassware has been designed for Suites and First Class as well. Wine glasses feature an elongated stem for easier handling, while Champagne flutes are tulip-shaped to enhance aroma and flavor.

Service formats are changing too. Suites and First Class will offer "Flexible Dining," allowing passengers to dine whenever they choose. Some First Class seats will also introduce "Companion Dining," a new arrangement that lets two passengers sit face to face and share a meal.

Cabin crew will also offer personalized drink pairings to complement each passenger's meal order, and individual plating will be provided for each dish.

New menu items are already being introduced on a rolling basis, while the updated beverages, tableware and in-flight service will be phased in from November.

"In-flight dining on Singapore Airlines means more than just a meal," said Yeoh Phee Teik, senior vice president of customer experience at Singapore Airlines. "Our goal is to give customers an even more memorable dining experience in the air, brought together through our refreshed menus, carefully selected beverages, new tableware and attentive service."

The overhaul is part of a broader cabin product upgrade the airline has underway. Next-generation in-flight products, its KrisWorld entertainment system, amenities, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi and ground services are also being refined and will be unveiled in Singapore in November.