Quantcast

Delta partners with chef José Andrés for new in-flight meals beginning November

Routes 360 Headlines: Key Stories Of The Week (W/C October 20, 2025)
LATAM CEO: New Aircraft Mean New Routes, Engine Woes Remain A Concern
Boeing wins FAA approval to hike 737 MAX production to 42 planes per month
IATA Highlights Critical Priorities for Aviation Safety and Operations
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 22, 2025)
First new Qantas Airbus jets come with one toilet for every 90 economy passengers – worse than Jetstar, Scoot and Ryanair
Breeze Airways becomes the first new US flag carrier in a decade — just as rival Spirit fights its 2nd bankruptcy
Airport runway close calls spur hopes for wider adoption of cockpit alert technology
Family sues American Airlines over deadly crash near National Airport
United Airlines briefly grounds all flights in US, Canada for second time in 2 months
2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike
United Airlines lifts brief ground stop after tech issue prompts FAA halt
Spirit Airlines preparing to furlough one-third of its flight attendants
‘Hypocrisy’ and ‘blackmail’: Ryanair’s feud with Spain
Exclusive: Turkey's surprise Air Europa deal came down to one key thing: control
Major airline launches exciting new route from Scotland to popular US location
Airlines fear carbon tax as flagship climate scheme develops holes
Ryanair scraps three Vienna routes, demands lower taxes and fees
Turkish Airlines has no intention of raising stake in Spain's Air Europa, chairman says
US lawmakers want Trump to reinstate delay compensation plan for air travelers
IATA pushes to raise international pilot retirement age to 67
US orders Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their partnership over fairness concerns in Mexico
Southwest’s New Wheelchair Policy Will Require Passengers to Remove 1 Item Before Boarding — What to Know
Aviation expansion: IndiGo to start direct Mumbai-Copenhagen flights from Oct 8; marks entry into Nordics - The Times of India
Major change for ALL Aer Lingus passengers flying from busy airport to offer 'modern and streamlined' experience
Southwest Airlines adds Sonoma County in California expansion - The Points Guy
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 8, 2025)
Delta Sees Record Premium Seats in '26, Main Cabin Flat or Down
Southwest requiring removal of batteries from mobility devices before boarding
Qantas’ milestone move for huge, new planes
Delta partners with chef José Andrés for new in-flight meals beginning November
Research
Webp ed
Ed Bastian, Chief Executive Officer | Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines will introduce new in-flight menu options created by celebrity chef José Andrés starting November 4. The collaboration follows a meeting between Delta CEO Ed Bastian and Andrés at the South by Southwest festival last year, which sparked the idea for the partnership.

Passengers flying in Delta One and domestic first class will be able to try dishes such as Spanish tortilla with vegetable stew for breakfast, braised beef short rib with smoky pepper sauce and creamy polenta, Spanish-style braised chicken thigh with celeriac-potato puree, and stuffed piquillo peppers with goat cheese and mushroom filling. These meals will initially be available on select routes before expanding to more flights.

Stephanie Laster, Delta’s managing director of onboard culinary experience, described the approach: "We really want to delight. We call it 'every flight, every bite,'" she said. "And I think that's where it's really about carefully curating dining experiences that get customers excited and really how we make them feel like they're dining in a sky-high restaurant versus that traditional airline catering, which can sometimes not be exciting or inspiring."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The rollout is modeled after previous launches like the Shake Shack burger on Delta flights. According to Laster, the process involves listening to customer feedback, testing new items on limited routes for consistency and quality control, then gradually expanding their availability.

Laster explained how the partnership came together: "José Andrés actually joined Ed [Bastian] at the South by Southwest conference last year and they had a great conversation, talking about the power of food, the importance of human connection and the impact of people-first culture. Turns out, that is perfectly aligned with who we are as a brand from a Delta perspective." She added that both teams worked together closely to adapt recipes for in-flight conditions.

Menu items are tailored for air travel where taste buds may react differently at altitude. Braised proteins were chosen because they retain flavor well during flight service. Laster noted: "Braised proteins do really well ... that's where things like a smoky pepper sauce that will accompany the short rib do really well to help bring more intensity to the palate without just putting more salt."

On why certain menu items roll out only on select flights initially, Laster said: "Our process, fundamentally, is really [to] listen, act, listen and [then to] test, measure, expand. We did that very methodically with Shake Shack." She also highlighted differences in this rollout compared to others: "This one...we are coming out with multiple products mainly because José Andrés has over 40 restaurants — he has quite a portfolio of dishes and inspiration from around the world."

While these new offerings target premium cabins first—Delta One and domestic first class—Laster said innovation continues across all cabins: "We just launched Farmer's Fridge...for our domestic main cabin customers to purchase. So keeping it all fresh across all of the cabins is important."

The initial launch dates vary by route:

- Breakfast (Spanish tortilla) begins November 4 at major airports including Atlanta (ATL), Salt Lake City (SLC), Los Angeles (LAX), among others.

- Lunch/dinner options like braised beef short rib and Spanish-style chicken also start November 4 from similar locations.

- Stuffed piquillo peppers debut December 3 or January 6 depending on destination.

- Dishes will expand into international routes departing cities such as Cincinnati (CVG), Orlando (MCO), Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP), Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), Tampa (TPA) later this winter.

In January 2026 further expansion is planned for international departures from Atlanta (ATL), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Miami International Airport (MIA) and John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Delta’s ongoing updates reflect trends among airlines working with renowned chefs or popular restaurants for enhanced passenger experiences during flight.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Delta Air Lines will introduce new in-flight menu options created by celebrity chef José Andrés starting November 4.

Oct 25, 2025

The Blue Sky partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue launched today, allowing members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem points across the two carriers.

Oct 25, 2025

Air Canada is set to expand its presence at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) by introducing four new nonstop routes to the United States in 2026.

Oct 25, 2025

United Airlines has announced it will add 10 new destinations from its Chicago O'Hare International Airport hub starting next year.

Oct 25, 2025

The partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue, known as Blue Sky, has officially launched.

Oct 25, 2025

American Airlines will introduce its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft on December 18, marking the first time a U.S. airline operates this model.

Oct 25, 2025