Inflight Catering Services Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Food Type (Meals, Bakery and Confectionary, Beverages, and Others), By Flight Service Type (Full-Service Carriers, Low-Cost Carriers), By Aircraft Seating Class (Economy Class, Business Class, First Class), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 17.02 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.11%
Fastest Growing Segment	Meals
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 28.72 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Inflight Catering Services Market will grow from USD 17.02 Billion in 2025 to USD 28.72 Billion by 2031 at a 9.11% CAGR. Inflight catering services encompass the industrial planning, production, and logistical delivery of meals and beverages to passengers aboard commercial and business aircraft. The primary driver supporting market growth is the rapid restoration of global passenger traffic, which necessitates increased meal production volumes to serve the expanding traveler base. This demand is further bolstered by the expansion of airline fleets and the resumption of long-haul international routes. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, the airline industry expected 4.96 billion scheduled passengers, indicating a direct surge in the addressable market for onboard dining providers.

Despite the positive trajectory, the sector faces substantial obstacles regarding supply chain management and operational expenditures. One significant challenge impeding market expansion is the volatility of raw material costs and fuel prices, which compresses profit margins for catering firms. These economic pressures make it difficult for service providers to maintain high quality standards while adhering to the strict budgetary limitations imposed by airlines, thereby restricting potential revenue growth within the competitive landscape.

Key Market Drivers

The surge in global air passenger traffic and tourism recovery constitutes the primary engine propelling the inflight catering services market. As travel confidence stabilizes, airlines are increasing flight frequencies, creating immediate demand for large-scale meal production. This worldwide resurgence necessitates robust supply chain responses from catering providers to serve the expanding customer base. According to Airports Council International (ACI) World, February 2024, in the 'Annual World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2023–2052', global passenger traffic was projected to reach 9.7 billion in 2024. To meet these requirements, firms are ramping up output; according to The Emirates Group, May 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023-2024', their catering arm, dnata, uplifted 123.0 million meals, illustrating the market's operational scale.

Escalating demand for premium and personalized inflight dining is the second critical factor, shifting focus towards culinary differentiation. Airlines are utilizing chef-curated menus to attract high-yield passengers, compelling catering services to invest in advanced culinary facilities and ingredient sourcing. This trend forces providers to balance quality with the complexities of mass customization. The financial capacity for airlines to upgrade these service levels is underpinned by the industry's return to profitability. According to the International Air Transport Association, June 2024, in the 'Global Outlook for Air Transport', the airline industry net profit was expected to reach $30.5 billion in 2024, enabling carriers to reinvest in superior onboard dining.

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Key Market Challenges

The volatility of raw material costs and fuel prices presents a persistent barrier to the expansion of the inflight catering sector. As essential input costs rise, catering providers experience squeezed profit margins, forcing them to navigate a difficult balance between maintaining service quality and managing expenditures. This financial strain is exacerbated by the tight budgetary constraints imposed by airlines, which often prioritize cost reduction in ancillary services during periods of high operating expenses. Consequently, catering firms may face difficulties in investing in menu innovation or premium offerings, limiting their ability to capture higher value from contracts.

Economic pressures on the broader aviation industry directly impact the budget allocation for onboard dining. High operational costs for carriers often translate into reduced spending power for third-party services. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2024, the global airline industry fuel bill was estimated to reach 291 billion USD. This substantial financial burden compels air carriers to negotiate stricter contracts with catering suppliers, thereby restricting the revenue potential for service providers and slowing the overall value growth of the market.

Key Market Trends

The expansion of plant-based, vegan, and allergen-free menu offerings is reshaping inflight dining as airlines respond to the growing demographic of health-conscious and environmentally aware passengers. Carriers are shifting from standard vegetarian options to gourmet plant-rich cuisine, catering to diverse dietary requirements while supporting broader corporate sustainability targets. This trend is evidenced by a marked rise in specific meal requests across global routes, compelling providers to diversify their supply chains. According to Emirates, January 2024, in the 'Emirates vegan meals: Bitesize Breakdown', the airline served more than 450,000 plant-based meals onboard in 2023, representing a 40% year-on-year increase in customer demand.

The implementation of AI-driven food waste tracking and reduction technologies is simultaneously transforming catering logistics by enabling precise production planning and minimizing operational inefficiencies. Airlines are utilizing predictive algorithms and consumption analytics to better match meal uplift with actual passenger loads, thereby mitigating the financial and environmental impacts of over-catering. These data-centric strategies are yielding significant improvements in resource utilization and inventory management. According to the Lufthansa Group, April 2024, in the 'Factsheet Sustainability 2023', the company reduced the proportion of discarded perishable food products on European flights by 53% in 2023 compared to 2019 levels through the application of algorithmic forecasting and sales data.

Segmental Insights

The Meals segment is positioned as the fastest-growing category within the Global Inflight Catering Services Market, driven primarily by the resurgence in long-haul international travel which necessitates comprehensive food service. As airlines seek to differentiate their brand identity and enhance passenger satisfaction, there is an increasing investment in diverse, high-quality culinary options that cater to specific dietary requirements. This expansion is further supported by rising passenger traffic figures reported by the International Air Transport Association, which directly correlates with the elevated demand for full meal services across all cabin classes.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominates the Global Inflight Catering Services Market driven by the rapid expansion of the civil aviation sector in emerging economies such as China and India. The region benefits from a significant rise in disposable income and urbanization, leading to increased passenger traffic for both business and leisure travel. Consequently, legacy and low-cost carriers are expanding fleets and route networks, creating sustained demand for onboard meal services. Additionally, continuous government investments in airport infrastructure modernization further support this growth, cementing the region's position as a primary hub for airline catering operations.

Recent Developments

• In April 2025, SATS launched a new range of culinary offerings at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo in Hamburg to provide authentic Asian inflight meals. The company introduced a digital platform known as the Culinary Knowledge Base to standardize preparation and cooking processes across its global network. This innovation ensured that the taste and texture of original dishes could be consistently replicated in different production facilities. The Chief Executive Officer of SATS Food Solutions stated that the initiative was designed to offer immersive dining experiences while utilizing fit-for-purpose sustainable packaging solutions.
• In September 2024, Newrest entered into a strategic alliance with AREAS to jointly operate an inflight catering license at Nantes and Bordeaux airports in France. This partnership allowed both groups to combine their operational and commercial strengths to enhance service offerings for airline clients. The collaboration commenced operations in October 2024, with the Toulouse-based catering group consolidating its network in the French provinces. Through this agreement, the companies aimed to serve various carriers, including easyJet and Air France, by leveraging shared sector expertise and innovative solutions to improve airport catering services.
• In July 2024, dnata secured a multi-year contract to provide inflight catering services to ITA Airways at Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Under this agreement, the service provider's teams were tasked with producing and uplifting more than 200,000 meals annually for the Italian carrier's daily flights to Rome. The partnership underscored the company's expansion in the North American market, ensuring high-quality dining experiences for passengers. The Chief Executive Officer of dnata Catering North America highlighted the company's commitment to delivering consistent and outstanding meals as the exclusive catering supplier for these key routes.
• In February 2024, Qatar Airways and gategroup established a new strategic partnership aimed at elevating the inflight dining experience through a Business Management Agreement. This collaboration focused on enhancing passenger dining, sourcing, and sustainability, while also involving the creation of a dedicated culinary studio in Doha to facilitate menu innovation. The airline aimed to refine its culinary offerings for both inflight services and ground lounges at Hamad International Airport. This initiative leveraged the catering provider's expertise in culinary concepts and operational excellence to set higher standards for onboard hospitality and healthy eating options.

Key Market Players

• Cathay Pacific Catering Services (H.K.) Ltd.
• DO & CO Aktiengesellschaft
• Emirates Flight Catering Company LLC
• SATS Ltd.
• Gate Gourmet Switzerland GmbH
• LSG Airline Catering & Retail GmbH
• Flying Food Group, LLC
• Universal Weather and Aviation Inc.
• Newrest Group Services SAS
• Indian Hotels Company Limited

By Food Type	By Flight Service Type	By Aircraft Seating Class	By Region
Meals Bakery and Confectionary Beverages and Others	Full-Service Carriers Low-Cost Carriers	Economy Class Business Class First Class	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Inflight Catering Services Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Inflight Catering Services Market, By Food Type:

• Meals
• Bakery and Confectionary
• Beverages
• and Others

• Inflight Catering Services Market, By Flight Service Type:

• Full-Service Carriers
• Low-Cost Carriers

• Inflight Catering Services Market, By Aircraft Seating Class:

• Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

• Inflight Catering Services Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE