Air New Zealand’s New Business Class Menu Features Iconic Kiwi Delicacies

Air New Zealand has revealed a new onboard menu for its premium cabins, designed to introduce consumers to the flavors of New Zealand and highlight local produce and vendors.

According to Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand’s Chief Customer and Sales Officer, “It’s our privilege to showcase the best our country has to offer and share that with the world. This menu is an opportunity to spotlight the unique flavors of Aotearoa and champion regions like Fiordland, Hawke’s Bay, and the Coromandel.”

Photo: Courtesy of Air New Zealand

“Our menu is different depending on where you fly, and we change our long-haul menu twice a year, so there are lots of opportunities for customers to enjoy new and exciting dishes no matter how frequently they travel with us.”

The new onboard menu will nod to iconic New Zealand favorites, including confit potato with onion creme fraiche whip and chives, which is a twist on chips and dip.

Photo: Crayfish bisque with chive crème fraîche and sourdough croutons. Courtesy of Air New Zealand

It will also include options like crayfish bisque with chive creme fraiche, sourdough croutons, and slow-cooked wild Fiordland venison with pancetta, parmesan polenta, and balsamic roasted red onions.

Photo: Seared New Zealand snapper with escabeche vegetables, smoked mussels, white beans and fresh dill. Courtesy of Air New Zealand

Given the landscape, there will be seafood options aplenty, including a seared New Zealand snapper with escabeche vegetables, smoked mussels, white beans, and dill.

Photo: Slow-cooked wild Fiordland Venison with pancetta, parmesan polenta, and balsamic roasted red onions. Courtesy of Air New Zealand

All the onboard service will also utilize local vendors, including Daily Bread for its manuka smoked rye sourdough and Duck Island for its ambrosia ice cream. In addition, compared to the previous menu, the new options will be more hearty and flavorsome to coincide with the winter season.

Photo: Ambrosia Ice Cream. Courtesy of Air New Zealand

According to the airline, the menus onboard are changed twice a year for long-haul international flights. They are adjusted more frequently on local flights. The new onboard options were introduced a few days ago and will run until October.

Air New Zealand makes approximately 7 million meals a year, with over 70 percent being catered out of Auckland, New Zealand’s capital.

Other Air New Zealand Updates

At the end of last year, Air New Zealand unveiled a new seat and cabin experience for its Business Premier Passengers. The new design and experience are based on five years of customer research and are set to debut at the end of this year or early next year.

The new seats will be on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and installed in a 1-2-1 configuration. They are set to replace the airline’s existing product, which has less privacy than the updated design.

The new seats will turn into a lie-flat bed with a 24” TV screen, Bluetooth audio, and other high-technology features.

Photo: Courtesy of Air New Zealand

While the airline won’t add closing doors in its new seats, it will have a shield that can be extended to provide extra privacy, which is a major step up from its current cabin.

In addition to revamping the Business Premier cabin, the New Zealand-based carrier is also launching a new category of seats called Business Premier Luxe. These will include a fully closing door and space for two to dine.

The overhaul is a major step up for the airline, now competing with American carriers like United, Delta, and American Airlines on the US-New Zealand routes.