Airline Meal Quality Compared: Indian vs Gulf vs Southeast Asian Carriers
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma covers Indian airline operations, airport infrastructure and route economics. He writes about Tier-1 and Tier-2 airport developments, IndiGo and Air India fleet strategy, and the unsung Indian aviation hubs travellers should know about.) · Published · 12 min read
An honest 2026 comparison of inflight meal quality across Indian, Gulf and Southeast Asian carriers — what to expect in each cabin, how special Indian meals fare, and which to pick by route.
Quick answer
In 2026, Gulf carriers (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad) set the benchmark for inflight food, especially in business class and for special Indian meals. Air India, now consolidated after the Vistara merger completed in November 2024, has improved its catering and is a solid full-service choice. Southeast Asian carriers (Singapore Airlines, Thai) are strong, but their default meals are less spicy. For Indian special meals, the Gulf carriers are the safest bet.
How airline food actually works
Before comparing, it helps to know what drives inflight meal quality: the catering kitchen at the departure airport, the airline's standards, the cabin class, and the route length. Food loaded in India (full of Indian caterers) often tastes more familiar to Indian palates than the same airline's food loaded abroad.
Cabin class matters most — business and first class get multi-course meals and choice, while economy gets a tray. And special meals (like the Asian Vegetarian/AVML or Hindu meal) are prepared separately and must be ordered in advance. With that framing, here is how the three groups compare.
Indian carriers — the honest picture
Air India is now India's primary full-service international carrier after fully absorbing Vistara in November 2024. The merger brought Vistara's catering culture and service-trained crew into the combined airline, noticeably lifting meal presentation and variety on many routes compared with pre-merger Air India.
Air India serves complimentary multi-course meals on long-haul flights — typically two services on long routes, with Indian and continental options, plus regional dishes. The biggest advantage for Indian travellers is authenticity: the Indian food, loaded from Indian kitchens, genuinely tastes Indian, with proper spice. Quality can still vary by route and aircraft as the integration continues, but the trajectory is clearly upward. (Note: Vistara no longer exists as a separate airline.)
On the low-cost side, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa and others sell buy-on-board food — generally decent, freshly heated meals and snacks, but paid and simpler.
Gulf carriers — the benchmark
Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad consistently rank among the world's best for inflight dining, and they are especially good for Indian travellers.
- Quality and choice — even economy gets a proper hot meal with multiple options, bread, salad and dessert; business and first class are exceptional.
- Indian-friendly — given their huge South Asian customer base, Gulf carriers handle Indian and Hindu/Asian-vegetarian special meals reliably and well.
- Consistency — standards hold up across their networks, not just out of India.
The trade-off is that most Gulf routes from India involve a stop at the carrier's hub (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi), so you eat across two flights — usually a good thing given the quality.
Southeast Asian carriers
Singapore Airlines is regularly rated among the best airlines in the world, with excellent food and service; Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Vietnam Airlines are also strong full-service options.
The food quality is high, and the service is polished. The main caveat for Indian palates is that default Western or pan-Asian meals tend to be milder and less spicy than what Indian or Gulf carriers serve. The fix is simple: order an Asian Vegetarian (AVML) or Hindu meal in advance, which these airlines prepare well. Singapore Airlines in particular has a strong special-meal programme. For trips to or via Southeast Asia, these carriers are excellent.
Special meals — what actually arrives
For vegetarians, Jains and those who want Indian food, special meals are the key to a good inflight experience. You must request them when booking (or at least 24 hours before, ideally more).
- AVML (Asian Vegetarian) — spiced Indian-style vegetarian food; the best default for most Indian vegetarians.
- VJML (Jain/Vegetarian Jain) — no root vegetables; Gulf and Indian carriers handle this most reliably.
- HNML (Hindu non-vegetarian) — Indian-style non-veg, no beef or pork.
In practice, Gulf carriers and Air India deliver the most authentic Indian special meals. Southeast Asian carriers handle them well too but confirm at check-in. Western and some other carriers can be hit-or-miss, so always re-confirm your special meal before departure.
The verdict by route
The best choice depends on where you are going.
- To Europe, the Americas or Africa (one-stop): Gulf carriers (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) offer the best food and special-meal reliability, plus excellent hub connections.
- To Southeast Asia, Australia or East Asia: Singapore Airlines, Thai and Malaysia Airlines are superb — just order an Indian special meal.
- Direct long-haul where Air India flies (e.g. US, UK, Australia): Air India is a strong, improving option with authentic Indian food and the convenience of a non-stop.
- Short regional/domestic: low-cost carriers with buy-on-board are fine; full-service Air India includes a meal.
Tips for the best inflight meal
Whatever airline you fly, a few habits improve the food experience.
- Order a special meal in advance — they are often fresher and tastier than the standard tray, and served first.
- Re-confirm it at check-in to avoid the dreaded missing-meal situation.
- Fly the carrier's food loaded from India where possible for the most familiar taste.
- Carry a few safe snacks (more on this in our other guides) in case the meal does not suit you.
- In premium cabins, pre-order or dine-on-demand where offered for the best experience.
Compare carriers and fares for your route on the FlightGPT search.
Frequently asked questions
Which airlines have the best inflight food for Indian travellers?
Gulf carriers — Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad — set the benchmark, with excellent meals across all cabins and reliable Indian special meals. Singapore Airlines and Thai are also superb (order an Indian special meal). Air India, post-merger, offers authentic Indian food on non-stops.
Does Vistara still serve meals on its own flights?
No. Vistara fully merged into Air India in November 2024 and no longer operates as a separate airline. Its catering culture and crew were absorbed into Air India, which lifted meal presentation and variety. When booking, you now fly Air India, not Vistara.
Has Air India's food improved after the Vistara merger?
Yes. The merger, completed in November 2024, brought Vistara's catering standards and service-trained crew into Air India, improving meal presentation and variety on many routes. Quality can still vary by route and aircraft as integration continues, but the overall trajectory is upward.
Are Southeast Asian airline meals spicy enough for Indians?
Their default Western or pan-Asian meals tend to be milder than Indian or Gulf carriers serve. The easy fix is to order an Asian Vegetarian (AVML) or Hindu meal in advance, which Singapore Airlines, Thai and Malaysia Airlines prepare well. The food quality itself is high.
How do I get Indian food on an international flight?
Request a special meal when booking or at least 24 hours before departure — AVML (Asian Vegetarian) for spiced Indian veg, VJML for Jain, or HNML for Hindu non-veg. Re-confirm at check-in. Gulf carriers and Air India deliver the most authentic Indian special meals.
Do low-cost Indian carriers serve free meals?
No. IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa and other low-cost carriers sell buy-on-board food — decent freshly heated meals and snacks, but paid. Full-service Air India includes complimentary meals. For long-haul, full-service carriers and their included meals are the better experience.
Which airline is best for Jain meals (VJML)?
Gulf carriers and Air India handle Jain meals (no root vegetables) most reliably, given their large South Asian clientele. Order VJML well in advance and re-confirm at check-in. Southeast Asian carriers can manage it too, but confirming before departure is essential for Jain travellers.
Is the food better on flights departing from India?
Often, for Indian palates — meals loaded from Indian catering kitchens tend to taste more authentically Indian than the same airline's food loaded abroad on the return leg. Where you can, choose the leg loaded in India for the most familiar taste, and order a special meal.