SINGAPORE Airlines : C6L 0% (SIA) will be restoring appetisers to economy class meals starting from Jun 1, 2023, the group said on Wednesday (May 24) in response to queries from travel blog The MileLion.

All meals served on medium, long-haul and ultra long-haul flights will include an appetiser, along with a bread roll, a main course, cheese and crackers, and a dessert.

Similarly, all meals served on short-haul flights, which are between 1.5 and 3.5 hours, will include a bread roll and butter, served with a main course and a dessert.

SIA noted that during the pandemic it had removed some food items from the meal tray for operational and supply chain reasons, as well as to reduce food waste.

On Thursday, SIA also said it will not proceed with using paper boxes for medium and long-haul flights “for now”. This comes after feedback from its trial on some flights in March 2023.

“Some (passengers) have shared their feedback regarding the serviceware, as have members of the public. We have taken that on board,” the group said.

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“We have also received the operational feedback on the trial, and noted that we may need to improve the design of the box,” it added.

The trial was part of SIA’s efforts to “enhance the in-flight experience” on medium and long-haul flights by offering more main course options which its customers “frequently ask for”. Such options include gravy-rich dishes like laksa, mee siam and congee.

“The design of the serviceware is also better at retaining heat and moisture than the casserole dish, helping to enhance the taste and quality of our main courses,” said SIA.

It noted that the trial food boxes cost more than the current disposable plastic casserole dish.

The group also noted that its current budget for in-flight meals is about 20 per cent higher than that for FY2019 and FY2020, even though it expects that its capacity will be lower than that year’s.

Last week, SIA reported record earnings of S$2.2 billion for the year ended Mar 31, reversing from a loss of S$962 million the year before. Revenue soared 133.4 per cent year on year to a record-high of S$17.8 billion from S$7.62 billion.

Separately, the airline has also put up a tender on its procurement website to buy hot towels. The tender will close on Jun 5, 2023, at 12 pm.