New inflight indulgences for the cosy season ahead

• Virgin Atlantic is welcoming the cooler weather with a brand-new menu, introduced across the network from 4th October 
• The modern and inclusive menu will include more vegetarian and plant-based options 
• All new beverages will feature, including wines, cocktails, matcha and kombucha 
• Economy Delight customers will now be able to pre-select their meals 

Virgin Atlantic has launched its new Autumn/Winter menu across all cabins from 4th October, with plenty of options that will help keep customers cosy for the flight ahead.  

Upper Class customers will indulge in a balance of British favourites and world flavours. On the main menu is succulent serrano ham with roasted squash, pickled red onion and feta cheese, herb roasted chicken breast and roasted trout fillet. Stealing the show is the Extra Bites menu, featuring a delicious cream tea including both a sultana scone and white chocolate and orange scone, with clotted cream, morello cherry jam and lemon curd. There's also a delectable bao bun with cashew satay chicken and a spiced lamb flatbread. The new menu features an increased focus on vegetarian and plant-based options, including carrot tartare with whipped ricotta, spinach and ricotta tortellini, spiced apple and parsnip soup and a beyond burger® with pickled onions, vegan cheese and vegan mayonnaise. Tempting new flavours of Northern Bloc plant-based ice cream will also be served, passengers can contemplate over double salted caramel or lemon sorbet. 

A new A La Carte breakfast menu has been introduced in Upper Class, enabling customers to ‘build their own breakfast’ from options of yoghurt, fresh fruit, warm pastries and a new range of cereals such as artisan granola or fruit and fibre. Customers wanting to catch up on sleep can order an Express Breakfast, served 40 minutes before landing. This includes either a bacon roll or sweet pastry. New wellbeing drinks are also making their debut, including Real sparkling tea, Perfect Ted matcha and Lo Bros kombucha. The latest edition of onboard wines feature a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a Côtes du Rhône Rosé and an Italian Villa Borghetti Valpolicella Classico.  

In the next cabin, Premium customers will have a tough time choosing between a homely chicken lasagne, sage and thyme pork stew and panko coated tofu with katsu vegetable curry. A new addition to the service is a British cheese plate with vintage cheddar, blacksticks blue, fig jelly and grapes with olive oil and sea salt crackers. A choice of sweet or savoury Mile High Tea will be on offer, with either coconut and blueberry financier and pistachio macaron mini patisseries, or mini quiche Lorraine and smoked salmon blini.  

Economy Delight passengers will be delighted to learn that they can now pre-order their entrees, which is already available in Premium and Upper Class. The new Economy menu features a chicken, leek and tarragon casserole and a creamy spinach and butternut pasta, complemented by Cathedral City cheddar and crackers and a Pots & Co plant-based chocolate pot.  

Snacks across cabins have been upgraded, with Economy passengers spoilt for choice between Walker’s shortbread fingers, vanilla Oreos, Cadbury mini fingers and Penn State sour cream and chive pretzels. Upper Class and Premium snacks will feature Savoursmiths bubbly and serrano chilli crisps, Yumma peach flavoured gummy sweets, Creative Nature blueberry muffin bar, Love Raw Vegan caramelised biscuit bar and more.  

There is something for everyone to enjoy as Virgin Atlantic welcomes back the crisp air and autumnal evenings. The comforting menu will be sure to leave customers full of flavoursome food, kick starting their holidays in the right way.  

Virgin Atlantic works with catering partner Gate Gourmet on its inflight food and beverage offering.  

Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operating Officer, Virgin Atlantic said: 

“We’re delighted to introduce our new onboard menu, marking the return of the season that makes our customers crave some winter sun. At Virgin Atlantic we’re always looking to create memorable moments onboard, which is why we strive to offer an unmatched, contemporary and extensive selection of dishes across our cabins.  

“From the addition of wellbeing drinks in Upper Class to the extension of pre-select to Economy Delight, our focus on innovation means our customers experience nothing short of fantastic service and flavorful food, no matter where they’re travelling to.” 

ENDS 

About Virgin Atlantic 

Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2023, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the seventh year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs more than 7,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 31 destinations across four continents throughout the year. Virgin Atlantic recently continued its expansion in the US, launching new routes to Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida. 

Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers.  Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliance’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.   

Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact.  The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies and has reduced its absolute carbon emissions by 35% over the last decade. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2027.  Later in 2023, Virgin Atlantic is leading an industry consortium to deliver the first 100% SAF flight across the transatlantic. Demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin Atlantic is committed to radical collaboration across the energy chain to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.  

For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic.