Korean Air increases use of local ingredients in in-flight meals

Korean Air announced on Tuesday that it has increased the use of domestic food ingredients in its in-flight meals to support local farming and fishing communities. According to the airline, 64 percent of its food ingredient supplies came from Korea in 2024, reflecting an increase of about 4 percentage points compared to the average figure compiled over five years starting from 2018. This growth has been driven by a swift rise in demand for international flights, which is projected to return to pre-pandemic levels. The airline anticipates that this percentage will continue to grow as the global aviation industry normalizes once again. Korean Air has also committed to raising the proportion of domestic food ingredients to support the regional agricultural sector, which is facing challenges due to low domestic consumption. During the first half of this year, the airline served in-flight meals to an average of around 44,000 passengers each day on its flights out of Incheon and Busan. Most of the ingredients used by Korean Air — like rice, vegetables and fruit — are sourced from domestic producers. However, certain items, including oranges, kiwis and specific seafood products, are imported if they aren’t available locally.<br/>