Business class passengers on long-haul Turkish Airlines flights are once again being served by the carrier’s ‘Flying Chefs’.
The onboard chef service had been suspended last year due to Covid-19, but with the reintroduction of hot meals in economy and business class last month, the airline has now brought back the popular chefs on flights of eight hours or more.
As well as preparing and serving meals for business class passengers, the chefs would normally welcome customers on board and take orders – it’s not clear what level of passenger interaction is currently taking place, given Covid-19 restrictions.
Announcing the move M. Ilker Ayci, Turkish Airlines chairman of the board and the executive committee, said:
“Throughout the past year, we’ve had to make many adjustments to our product and service offerings, to protect the health and safety of our passengers and employees.
“Our award-winning dining service and Flying Chefs programme is a distinguishing aspect of the airline and we are happy to reintroduce this our worldwide guests, to make the flight experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.”
Note that meal display trolleys remain suspended, with dishes being served pre-plated to passengers.
The UK government recently added Turkey to the “red list” of destinations at high risk of importing Covid-19 “variants of concern”.
The move came into effect at 0400 on May 12, and as a result Turkish Airlines passenger flights from Turkey to the UK have been suspended, although services are continuing to operate from the UK to Turkey.
