The national carrier Pakistan International Airlines spruces up their service with some culinary innovation

01 Jul, 2016

On board the national carrier today? You'll be one of the lucky few to sample PIA's new menu first.

One of travellers' biggest gripes about air travel is the quality of the food served on a plane, but PIA is striving to up its game with new menus for all domestic and international flights. The menus, which were introduced today, are for both Business and Economy classes.

So what's on the menu? We spy 'cocktail-sized' sandwiches, cheddar sticks, a mezze platter and an assortment of salads for snacks - and dessert options could include mango trifle and chocolate mousse cups!

The airline's chefs also promise to improve food presentation

According to the official statement from the PIA's PR office, chefs of PIA Food Services department have added "some new dishes of chicken, mutton and fish" to the menu, so lunch and dinner sounds like a largely carnivorous affair. But we did spot palak paneer in the buffet, so vegetarians should take heart.

PIA aims to switch up its menu every quarter

Breakfast options include pancakes, cheese omelettes and scrambled eggs.

Comments

A. A. Jul 01, 2016 05:10pm

I traveled yesterday on an international PIA flight (PK-752) and the food provided was exceptionally good (I don't think it was the new menu). It tasted like home cooked fresh meal and not the typical stale airline food. I felt extremely proud. Well done PIA.

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Wali Jul 01, 2016 05:13pm

PIA food has always been top notch. Very few other airlines serve food as good as PIA.

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Harmony-1© Jul 01, 2016 05:20pm

Can't wait.

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Ikram Jul 01, 2016 05:21pm

Unfortunately it's not the food quality that people are looking for when they want to fly with PIA. They are looking for punctuality, fast and efficient customer service and reliable aircrafts.

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Ali Jul 01, 2016 05:24pm

Don!t privitise Pride of Pakistan, pia.

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Ijaz Jul 01, 2016 05:28pm

Its not the food they need to improve. That was always decent by airline standards

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Nazir Jul 01, 2016 05:32pm

Quiet, courteous, efficient service, both on the ground and in the air, clean, comfortable aircraft cabins, on time regularity, and clean wholesome food of course on long haul flights. That's what PIA needs.

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Pakistan Jul 01, 2016 05:35pm

That means Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided to travel by PIA if he comes to Pakistan.

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Arif Mobeen Jul 01, 2016 05:44pm

That's great!

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Ali Vazir Jul 01, 2016 06:06pm

I am from travel industry of Africa. Turkish Airlines has been winning best European Airline Award for so many years. I couldn't find any specialty, other than professionally decorated, garnished, served meals (of pretty small amount). Sadly, it is how you present your meals that increases your rating in the airline industry, though punctuality and large new aircrafts remain on top. Contrary to others, my experience with PIA has always been very cordial and refreshing. I have always found the aircraft, timings well maintained and staff very hospitable. The take offs and landings have always been perfect.

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khalil Jul 01, 2016 06:31pm

Too little too late. Too much damage done to nat carrier. I have not traveled with pia for more than 5 yrs. Will take yrs to build confidence.

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ordinary_citizen Jul 01, 2016 06:34pm

I agree. Food has never been an issue, punctuality and service is. I used to travel with PIA. A few years back I flew to Pakistan and while I was there most European airports banned them due to condition and safety condition of their air crafts. Most flights got cancelled, including mine, for an indefinite period of time. I hastily bought one way ticket with another carrier. Lost money and had to go through unnecessary hassle. That was the end of my love affair with PIA.

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Amir Jul 01, 2016 06:56pm

PIA food has always been great! Just improve on the other areas! We promise we will be loyal customers! And please don't westernize the food too much! The desi touch in the food is what our food is all about!

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Azhar Hussain Jul 01, 2016 06:56pm

So finally we have woken up, if though a white guy had to come and wake us up.

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Hindusthani Jul 01, 2016 06:56pm

I was in a PIA flight which was going to Newyork via Paris very worst nasty & dirty. People were sitting, laying, some slept footpath down with cover, same time cleaners were cleaning while transit tarmac ! one side some are eating one is bad smell of toilet outside? washbasin full of vomit etc etc., enough is enough this is PIA ? Public toilet better than the PIA flight i think!!!

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Zain Abedin Jul 01, 2016 07:16pm

Pakistan ki aan Pakistan ki shaan PIA. I hope we can do justice to PIA, because most of the time our own people bash without even a reason. I have never seen Americans crying if united is delayed or AA is delayed.

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Ahmed Jul 01, 2016 07:35pm

Please pay your bills. Do you see mountain of debt they have manage to collect. To start PIA need to improve employee attitude with customers. In long hall flights they never visit toilets for minimum cleaning effort.

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ibs Jul 01, 2016 07:36pm

PIA food has always been good!

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nac Paris Jul 01, 2016 07:55pm

Great photos. I being a regular traveler believe the dishes in the photos apart from sandwiches are meant for club class passenger

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Khalid Jul 01, 2016 08:23pm

@Wali Either you have not travelled by other airlines or have never travelled by PIA. The food in PIA is nothing but disgusting. Always has been. Good news about the new menu though.

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Rukh-e-zehra Jul 01, 2016 08:40pm

Just 4months ago I traveled through P.I.A air zconditioner was not working proper I asked them many times as my children were sweating they said we do not have blankets that's why we kept it air conditioner low food was stale tasteless all t.v inside were not working even the lights were not working and one lady with two years child got stuck in the toilet for about 20minutes it was a strange experience for us I hope and pray they could also improve other services as well

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain Jul 01, 2016 09:02pm

Can Pakistan and PIA afford? Where the money is coming from when PIA is running in loss from year to year?

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Ahmer Jul 01, 2016 09:14pm

@A. A. If it ain't stale airline food, then it is not real food. That is the charm, well it has been for me for years to eat cold sandwiches and drink warm pepsi in most of the flights around the world. If the food served is good, then I feel I have been wronged. You will find many nutcases like me but we are a strong community and we demand stale airline food every time.

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Rev. Eldrick Lal Jul 01, 2016 09:53pm

PIA has always served great food whether its domestic or intonation all flights. The national carrier needs to work on the quality of the aero planes, punctuality of flights and ground and as well as air staff. Kindly bring back the candies or toffees which PIA once used to serve before air borne.

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Khalid Butt Jul 01, 2016 10:23pm

It is stupidity to serve any meals on flights less than three hours. Every meal costs about PKR 500.00, instead the price of the ticket can be reduced. Meals for sale on boa d is there in all American Airlines even pillows and blankets are available on payment.

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Fariha Jul 01, 2016 10:24pm

Surprisingly, I have ALWAYS loved PIA food. That's the sole reason for risking delays and other potential inconveniences. There's no need to fix something that's not broken. The PIA omelette is my all time favorite, not to mention the Biryani n qorma. Fix what counts...

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Fawad A Khan Jul 01, 2016 10:32pm

@Hindusthani Bro you seem to have spent half of your journey in the toilet man. Jokes aside, PIA needs to work on several issues.

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Punch Jul 01, 2016 11:04pm

@Ali Vazir Turkish has full fledged chefs on board in the business class section. They can adapt the meal to the passengers' requirements.

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M.Jamal Jul 01, 2016 11:23pm

Pakistanis must sponsor PIA in all condition and it must be their first choice whenever travelling.PIA on the other hand must touch maximum airports/destinations with improvement in service.PIAC AN again be the best airline.

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Omar Jul 02, 2016 12:23am

I always loved PIA's food which I always found tasty and filling. That was the old menu. Im excited about the new menu. Looking forward to flying our national carrier soon!

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asad Jul 02, 2016 01:11am

Very frequent traveler, PIA was and is proud to PAKISTANI community all over the world. When you step in plan you feel like you are HOME. May ALLAH provide PIA some best CEO and leader .. who will take this proud airline back to his own feet

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Sehrish Jul 02, 2016 03:36am

@Wali I doubt it's true

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Ehsan ali Jul 02, 2016 04:17am

Very nice menu

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Khan USA Jul 02, 2016 05:54am

We need our desi Pakistani food like Biryani . Kababs and naan and kheer and gajar ka halwa !

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L.Ahmad Jul 02, 2016 08:22am

Food is only one component of ther service so you can't judge the airline based on it.

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farhan kermani Jul 02, 2016 12:55pm

Good work, what stops you from carving out a dedicated traveller team. Go and consolidate your grip on the domestic market and then introduce the same on International market too. but not GCC flights, other long haul flights.

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ashraf jamal Jul 02, 2016 03:59pm

PIA need to have limit 5 seats in Total maximum Free, and discounted, upgrades in total for employees and Ex -Employees seats. This is must for PIA to survive.

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AdHawk Jul 02, 2016 08:39pm

Frankly, food is the least of my worries flying long haul. It's price, schedule, leg-room and cleanliness, in that order.

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Shahzad Akhund Jul 02, 2016 10:28pm

I used to prefer travelling with PIA, especially for it's cuisine. That was many years ago. I started travelling on other airlines, when PIA not only became non-competitive in fares, it was having serious on-board services, as well as scheduling problems. I am glad to see that they're paying attention to the cuisine, but that will not solve their problems unless on-board service and competitive fares are not in; after all, if it was just the food, then one does not have to pay a large amount of money to hop on a plane, it can be done quite easily at home without paying any additional amount.

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munaza Jul 02, 2016 10:40pm

Is thisMenu for national flight too?

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munaza Jul 02, 2016 10:54pm

National flight menu?

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Fayzah Jul 03, 2016 04:25am

Who will keep the check,whether the passengers getting the food or not?

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virgo Jul 03, 2016 02:08pm

@Hindusthani ....you are 100% right and true.

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Muhammad Ali Sabir Jul 04, 2016 03:42am

I now travel via PIA for my routes to/from Canada or UAE because I found it better than other options available on these routes. Always on time and only once got late luggage. Food was definitely one of decisive factor for family travel.

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0504Traveller Jul 05, 2016 09:41am

I agree with the comments below. It is not just about the food, but the overall service that PIA provides. From the ground staff, to the poor on-board quality, to the lack of on-time arrivals are all things that need improvement - not just the food. While passengers appreciate good food, I believe they would prefer an on-time arrival, good customer service, and a good on-board experience.

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