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

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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."

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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.

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