In recent years awareness of health, nutrition, and the environment has vastly increased driving numbers of consumers globally to adopt plant-based, or flexitarian, diets. This has spurred demand for alternative protein options in all avenues of food service – including air travel. 

Since 2014 the number of U.S. consumers identifying as “vegan” has increased by 500%, in the UK this metric has increased by 400% in the last two years alone, while Portugal has seen a 400% increase in vegan consumers this past decade. Other nations with historically meat-rich diets, like Australia, are reporting record numbers of plant-based consumers (nearly 10% of the population in 2021), or Germany where only 21% of consumers report eating meat on a daily basis. 

These figures speak to the global adoption of more plant-rich diets, and as travel resumes following lockdowns over the past few years, the demand for alternative proteins is truly becoming global. 

Airlines everywhere are responding to this demand, making it easier than ever to travel internationally while upholding a vegan diet.

In November, All Nippon Airways (ANA) added several vegan meals to their offering list for flights departing from Japan. These have been prepared in partnership with chef Hideki Takayama, of Taiwan’s Michelin-starred Paris 1930, and, according to the airline, were created as a direct response to passenger demand. 

Qatar Airways also recently upgraded its vegan offerings, adding several dishes to the gourmet a la carte menu – meaning that business class customers no longer have to pre-order vegan options. Economy class passengers flying on this airline can order their plant-based options during the ticket purchase process. 

In North America, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines have all recently spruced their plant-based menus working with esteemed chefs throughout the continent to create a myriad of top-tier alternative protein options for passengers. While JetBlue offers a vegan “SavorUp Box” option to passengers on flights over two hours in length. 

Dubai-based Emirates continues to lead the pack in vegan dining. According to the airline, there was a 154% increase in the number of vegan meals served between 2021-2022. In 2022 the airline declared that over 280,000 plant-based meals were consumed on board. 

The inclusion of these alternative protein-based meals on airlines globally speaks to the permeation of plant-based products into all aspects of food service. In turn, with these airlines and others, now offering a range of plant-based options across domestic and international flights, travelling is becoming easier than ever for vegan and flexitarian consumers.