Chinese Airlines Launch Paid Custom In-Flight Meals, Keep Free Economy Service

Several Chinese carriers, including Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Sichuan Airlines, have recently launched paid custom in-flight meal services, with offerings ranging from budget set meals to premium platters priced at several hundred RMB. The menu includes claypot rice, steak, Sichuan-style spicy hot pot, caviar platters and other diverse choices that passengers can purchase for an additional fee. The move marks a shift in airline catering from uniform free distribution toward a personalized paid model.

Survey data show that ticket price carries a 34% weight in passenger purchase decisions, while meals account for only 6%, yet travelers are willing to pay an average of about US$27 more for quality meals. The paid meal service aims to enrich food categories while providing airlines with a new path to optimize catering cost structures.

The China Air Transport Association has made clear that free economy-class meals will not be cancelled following the rise of paid meal services. The association emphasized that basic free meals will remain, but the boundary between them and value-added services must be clearly defined to prevent hidden downgrades such as reduced portions or narrowed variety. Currently, paid in-flight meals span a wide price range, from set meals priced at around ten-plus RMB to premium dishes exceeding 300 RMB, with specific pricing varying by route and meal type.