Qantas ditches vegetarian meal options on some domestic flights

The flying kangaroo has been slammed over ditching meal options on some of its domestic flights – but it has explained why.

If you have noticed a change to the food being served on domestic Qantas flights, it’s because the Aussie airline has decided to reduce its meal offering.

The move has angered one traveller in particular who was told on a flight from Adelaide to Sydney that vegetarian food would not be served as the airline is now taking a “one size fits all” approach.

“I’m informed that #Qantas no longer serve vegetarian food on domestic flights (except Perth),” frequent flyer and environmentalist Jon Dee wrote.

“Is Alan Joyce deliberately trying to run @Qantas into the ground? What kind of airline stops offering vegetarian food to its passengers? It was chicken pie or nothing tonight,” he continued.

A frequent flyer on-board a domestic flight from Adelaide to Sydney said he was only offered a chicken pie after learning the airline has ditched vegetarian meal options on some domestic flights.

A Qantas spokesperson told news.com.au during Covid the airline made some changes to on-board food and service offerings to “simplify the service delivery for our crew”.

“We now offer a single meal/snack option per flight on our shorter flights, such as a chicken pie or a zucchini and onion frittata.

“If the option on a particular flight is not suitable for vegetarians, we try to offer an alternative of a small sweet or savoury snack which is vegetarian.”

The spokesperson explained on longer domestic and international flights customers can pre-book a range of special meals including vegan and gluten and dairy free options.

Mr Dee said he had been able to get vegetarian options on flights in Australia since the 1990s, adding that he could “get a proper meal, like pasta”.

“They did great vegetarian meals. If it was a pie you would get a vegetarian pie. You had a good choice,” Mr Dee said.

I’m on the Adelaide to Sydney flight - I’m informed that #Qantas no longer serve vegetarian food on domestic flights (except Perth).

Crew said “one size fits all”- Joyce has really screwed @Qantas@10NewsFirst @7NewsAustralia @9NewsAUS @abcnews @smh @dailytelegraph @crikey_news

— JON DEE (JonDee.com) (@JonDeeOz) September 18, 2022

“I went on a Jetstar flight recently and got a better option than Qantas. Not even Ryanair would try this on.”

Meanwhile, Virgin and Jetstar still offer vegetarian options on all domestic flights.

Mr Dee’ tweet has been ‘liked’ more than 1300 times, with many Aussies weighing in on the airline’s vegetarian move.

A Qantas spokesperson said during Covid some changes to on-board food and service offerings were made to ‘simplify the service delivery for our crew’. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

“You’d think they’d err on the side of vegetarian, or even vegan, food as a one-size-fits-all approach since that covers all dietary requirements, one person responded. “And there are some just satisfying vegetarian dishes that most people would find appealing. BTW – I am not a vegetarian or a vegan.”

You'd think they'd err on the side of vegetarian, or even vegan, food as a one-size-fits-all approach since that covers all dietary requirements. And there are some just satisfying vegetarian dishes that most people would find appealing. BTW - I am not a vegetarian or a vegan.

— Steven Green (@StevenGreen31) September 19, 2022

Given the number of people who are vegetarian or vegan this will not do a lot for Qantas sales!

— Caz (@AltoCarol) September 18, 2022

So you are whinging because Qantas wont give you a convenient meal because you chose a minority lifestyle. Did they stop you from bringing your own food? Did you buy something at the airport? You are not in the majority, deal with it.

— M (@maddaford1969) September 19, 2022

Do you have any idea how big the percentage of vegetarians is in Oz? Obviously not.

No special food for people on religious grounds either.

— JON DEE (JonDee.com) (@JonDeeOz) September 18, 2022

Another person added: “If one size fits all re a meal choice of meat or veg, surely veg is the common denominator!? Seriously, that’s a ridiculous choice by Qantas.”

However, others defended the airline, advising passengers they should just bring their own meal on-board a short flight.

“What’s so hard on either not eating for 2 hours, or bringing your own snack? I’d be more worried about the frequent flyers’ carbon footprint than in-air food option shortage for some,” one person tweeted.

“But you’ll still get to SYD, right? Which is the point, after all – it is an airline and not a restaurant chain. And it just hemmoraged money for 2+ years while the country was closed,” another added. “Next time bring an apple and some granola.”