JAL enhancing U.S. meal services

The Executive Class Seasons Cabin on Japan Airlines has a new wider selection of meals for its passengers starting on the airline’s routes to the United States this summer and will be introduced on European routes next year.

In July, JAL began offering passengers from Narita to Chicago two Japanese meals instead of one. More seasonal ingredients will be available in a Kyoto-style kaiseki-ryori service. A healthy meal offer will also be available to passengers selecting the Western-style meal as well.

Among the dishes added for the new service are deep-simmered beef in sweet soy sauce and grilled fillet of flounder with spicy teriyaki sauce and sesame teriyaki sauce.

Starting in August, JAL’s first meal choice will be changed from three dishes to eight dishes, delivered in a shunmisaisai style with the contents featuring the colors and dishes of the season.

Other changes are also in the works. Starting August flight attendants in business class dispensed with cart service carrying meals by hand to passengers. Before the end of the year, the airline will expand its Mebaekai service, which is done through an association with Japanese restaurants. The program is designed to promote traditional Japanese cooking techniques and traditions.

Starting this year all first class meals departing Tokyo will be under the supervision of the Mebaekai and before the end of the year, the program will be expanded to flights departing Osaka and Nagoya.

“The improvements will enable JAL to provide a more intimate, individual-focused service and will take hospitality on board JAL to even greater heights,” said a release from JAL.