Chinese airlines introduce paid meals on domestic flights
Major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, have introduced paid meal options on domestic flights. Passengers are offered both inexpensive snacks and premium sets costing several hundred yuan, ECNS reports.
Reasons for introducing paid options
Economic analyst Pan Helin explained the expansion of the paid service by several factors. According to him, food sales are already an established business model in other transport sectors, while a wider selection may help carriers increase brand recognition on social media.
The analyst also pointed to persistent cost pressure related to onboard meals. In his view, paid offerings could turn catering from an expense item into a potential source of revenue for airlines.
Free meals will not be cancelled
A survey cited by Pan Helin showed that ticket price accounts for 34% of factors affecting passengers' booking decisions, while onboard meals account for 6%. At the same time, respondents said they were willing to pay an average of $27 extra for higher-quality dishes.
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According to the analyst, passengers seeking to save money may not want to spend additional funds on food. Meanwhile, business travelers, content creators and social media users may be willing to pay more for an improved inflight dining experience.
The China Air Transport Association stated that free economy-class meals will not be cancelled despite the expansion of paid options. At the same time, Pan Helin noted that, from a commercial perspective, certain changes to the free service may be inevitable.
He proposed setting clear basic food standards, increasing cost transparency, involving third-party catering companies in the supply chain and clearly distinguishing between basic and premium meals. In the analyst's opinion, airlines should focus not on luxury but on modern and visually appealing offerings, including vegetarian, low-calorie and liquid dishes.
Pan Helin also suggested that carriers could offer local specialties from stopover airports or cooperate with lifestyle brands and intellectual property owners on certain routes.
