New Delhi: National carrier Air India will be saving around Rs 8-10 crore annually through its decision to discontinue non-vegetarian meals in the economy class on domestic flights, parliament was told on Tuesday.
“Non-vegetarian meal has been discontinued only in economy class of domestic sector flights of Air India. This was started to save costs, reduce wastage, improve service and also to avoid any chances of mix-up of meals,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
Various measures like change in menu, meal schedules, rationalisation of dry stores and ancillary items as per current trends have been taken for cost cutting which will save Air India around Rs 20 crore annually, he added.
AI plans to reinvent its menu for international business class passengers:
In a bid to lure more passengers, national passenger carrier Air India on Tuesday said that it will introduce a new menu for its international first and business class segments.
According to the airline’s spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar, the airline will reinvent its existing menu by introducing regional dishes, more varieties of wine and mocktails.
Apart from new dishes, the airline intends to give a “refresher training” in Indian cuisine to its chefs, who are stationed at various international cities.
“We will showcase new menu with regional dishes, new wines and several other changes during an exhibition which will be held in September,” Kumar said.
“The final menu will be decided and pressed into service from the winter schedule from October end.”
The move assumes significance as the airline earns 65 per cent of its total revenue from international operations.
