New Virgin Australia inflight meals & buy on board

Virgin Australia has scrapped free food in economy class, with passengers now only receiving complimentary water, tea or coffee on flights.

Complimentary food will no longer be provided for economy class passengers. Instead, you will be asked to pay for inflight food.

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

However, in Business Class, Virgin Australia has abandoned it's 'pot noodle' menu offered for the past year, and instead it offers a range of hot meals, healthy salads and Australian classics, served on tableware, including crockery, glassware and cutlery.

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

Promising the new menu will rotate on a bi-monthly basis and comes with a free bar, with all-inclusive premium Australian wine and beer, plus soft beverages and spirits.

The new Business class experience also triggered a training refresh for the airline's cabin crew, with new hospitality standards that focus on customer engagement allowing more time for the crew to mingle and chat in the cabin with passengers.

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

At the back of the aircraft, in Economy Class, the airline claims that passengers prefer to pay for their own food and drinks, as opposed to receiving a free inflight meal.

The menu includes items such as Mr Lee's noodles ($7.50), Kettle crisps ($5) and Mainland cheese and biscuits ($5). Three wines are available for $12 a glass, while a can of beer starts at $9.

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

Virgin Australia will continue to serve complimentary tea, coffee and water on every flight.

After a turbulent year, and many boardroom shuffles, there is a new Chief Executive at the helm of Virgin Australia, with Jayne Hrdlicka saying that many months had been spent developing the new onboard experience following extensive customer research.

"We're continuing to write a new chapter at Virgin Australia and we're incredibly focused on creating great experiences for our guests. Today we've delivered an exceptional Business Class product and more choice and value for Economy guests that we know they're going to love," said Ms Hrdlicka.

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

Commenting on the reintroduction of an Economy buy onboard menu, Hrdlicka says; "we are simply extending that choice onboard as well. By removing snacks that aren't valued by our guests we're able to structurally reduce airfares making it even cheaper to fly. We'll continue to offer complimentary tea, coffee and water on all flights and the opportunity for guests to purchase their favourite menu items at a reasonable price," she said.

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

Virgin Australia Economy Class menu

Virgin Australia will continue to serve complimentary tea, coffee and water on every flight.

Mainland cheese and crackers

Kettle chips

Mr Lee's noodles

Chocolate muffins

Beverages

Beer, wine and sparkling wine

Spirits, including whisky, rum, gin, bourbon and vodka

Soft drinks, including ginger beer, Coke, lemonade, sparkling water and fruit juice

View full Economy menu here.

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

Virgin Australia Business Class menu

Virgin Australia Business Class passengers will be offered two menu choices on every flight, appropriate to the time of day and length of the flight.

Breakfast on Virgin Australia Business Class

• Smashed avocado and crumbled feta on sourdough, served alongside Greek yoghurt with mango coulis, seasonal fresh fruit and a Danish pastry
• Ham and scrambled egg brioche roll with tomato relish, served alongside Greek yoghurt with mango coulis and seasonal fresh fruit
• Bircher muesli with cherry compote, served with a Danish pastry

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

Lunch on Virgin Australia Business Class

• Pumpkin and prosciutto salad served with cheese and crackers and chocolate delight cake
• Turkey, brie and fig jam sourdough melt served with cheese and crackers
• Haloumi and quinoa salad served with cheese and crackers

Virgin Australia food, Business Class inflight meal

Dinner on Virgin Australia Business Class

• Lamb and rosemary pie with a pumpkin and feta smash, served alongside an antipasto plate with prosciutto, cheese and crackers and a chocolate delight cake
• Pumpkin and prosciutto salad served with cheese and biscuits
• Haloumi and quinoa salad served alongside an antipasto plate with marinated vegetables, cheese and crackers and a chocolate delight cake

Beverages and bar on Virgin Australia Business Class

• Australian white and red wines including Grant Burge NV Sparkling
• Australian craft beers including Green Beacon Tropical Pale Ale
• Selection of popular spirits including vodka, gin, scotch, bourbon and rum
• Gordons Gin Jim Beam Bourbon White Label
• Bundaberg Rum
• Johnnie Walker Scotch Red Label
• Smirnoff Vodka
• Premium tea, coffee, juice and sparkling water