Airline Meal Quality Compared: Indian vs Gulf vs Southeast Asian Carriers
By Arjun Kapoor (Arjun Deshpande covers culinary travel logistics for Indian globetrotters — from duty-free rules and airline catering comparisons to spice-market maps and food-safety prep that actually works on the road.) · Published · 12 min read
Airline meals range from surprisingly good to barely edible. This honest comparison ranks the food on Indian, Gulf, and Southeast Asian carriers across economy and business class — based on actual recent flights.
Quick answer
In economy class, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways serve the best food. Emirates is good but declining. Air India has improved significantly post-Tata but remains inconsistent. IndiGo's buy-on-board is functional. In business class, Qatar Airways Qsuite catering is the current benchmark, followed by Singapore Airlines and Emirates. Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines offer surprisingly good economy meals for the price.
Indian carriers — the honest picture
Air India economy class meals on long-haul (Delhi/Mumbai to London, New York, San Francisco) have improved since the Tata takeover. The chicken biryani, dal-rice combinations, and paneer dishes are competently executed. Bread rolls are fresh. The dessert (usually a small cake or mousse) is average. Compared to the pre-Tata era, the improvement is noticeable but not transformative — think "decent railway catering" rather than "restaurant quality." Business class on Air India's newer aircraft (A350 routes) has stepped up meaningfully — multi-course meals with proper plating, though still behind the Gulf carriers.
IndiGo's buy-on-board menu on domestic flights is basic but functional — the maggi, sandwiches, and cup noodles are what you expect. On international routes (Istanbul, Central Asia, Southeast Asia), IndiGo offers complimentary meals that are airline-catering standard. IndiGo airline page has fleet details.
Akasa Air and SpiceJet are buy-on-board only on domestic routes. The food is warmed-up packaged meals — acceptable if you are hungry, not something to look forward to. Browse all airline pages for comparison.
Gulf carriers — the benchmark
Qatar Airways sets the current standard. Economy meals on Doha-connected routes feature properly spiced rice dishes, fresh salads, warm bread, and desserts that are a genuine step above other airlines. The AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal) and VJML (Jain Meal) special meal options are well-executed because Qatar caters to massive Indian passenger volumes. Business class in the Qsuite is restaurant-level — a la carte ordering from a multi-page menu, proper glassware, and dishes that taste like food rather than airline catering.
Emirates economy has declined over the past two to three years according to frequent-flyer consensus. The meals are still acceptable but portions are smaller and quality is more variable than it was in 2022-2023. Business class remains strong — the Emirates lounge at DXB and the onboard meal service are still among the best. Dubai routes are served by both Emirates and multiple Indian carriers.
Etihad is a solid middle ground — better than Emirates economy in 2026, slightly behind Qatar. The Abu Dhabi hub is smaller and less congested than Dubai, which some travellers prefer.
Southeast Asian carriers
Singapore Airlines economy meals are consistently the best in this comparison. SIA takes catering seriously — the rice dishes, noodles, and the "Book the Cook" option in business class (pre-order your meal from an extensive menu before the flight) are genuinely good. The laksa and chicken rice in economy are airline-food highlights. Premium economy on SIA offers business-class-quality meals at a lower fare — worth the upgrade for food alone on long-haul routes.
Thai Airways serves surprisingly generous economy meals — proper Thai curries, jasmine rice, and fresh fruit. The green curry chicken is reliably good. Thai also has a strong AVML game for Indian passengers. Bangkok flights on Thai Airways include complimentary meals.
Malaysia Airlines serves nasi lemak in economy on routes from KL — a genuine Malaysian dish, not an approximation. Vietnam Airlines and Philippine Airlines are functional but unremarkable.
Special meals — what actually arrives
AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal): usually paneer or vegetable curry with rice. Quality varies by carrier — SIA and Qatar do it best. VJML (Jain Meal): available on most carriers but quality is hit-or-miss. Air India understands the restrictions natively; foreign carriers sometimes send a VJML that contains garlic. VGML (Vegan): increasingly available but often bland — boiled vegetables with rice. HNML (Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal): a good option if you eat meat but want Indian-style preparation — usually chicken or lamb with Indian spices.
Always order special meals at least 48 hours before departure. Reconfirm via the airline app 24 hours before. If your special meal does not arrive, the cabin crew can usually offer the vegetarian option from the regular service — but there is no guarantee.
The verdict by route
India to Europe: Qatar Airways via Doha or Singapore Airlines via Singapore offer the best food. Air India direct is improving. India to USA: Air India direct on A350 is decent; SIA via Singapore is better if you have time for the connection. India to Southeast Asia: Thai Airways, SIA, and Malaysia Airlines all serve good food — pick based on price and schedule. India to Middle East: Emirates and Qatar are both fine; Etihad is underrated. Search flights to compare routes and carriers.
Frequently asked questions
Which airline has the best economy food for Indian travellers?
Singapore Airlines, followed by Qatar Airways. Both serve well-spiced meals and handle AVML/VJML special meal requests competently.
Has Air India food improved under Tata?
Yes, noticeably but not dramatically. Long-haul economy meals are competent. Business class on A350 routes has improved significantly. Consistency remains the issue.
Should I order a special meal on international flights?
Yes, if you have dietary restrictions. Order AVML, VJML, or HNML at least 48 hours before departure and reconfirm 24 hours out. Special meals are served first, which is a minor perk.