How Qatar Airways Prepares 200,000 Meals From Scratch Every Day | Big Business | Business Insider

Summary

This video delves into the meticulous process behind Qatar Airways' in-flight catering, highlighting their state-of-the-art kitchen in Doha that produces over 200,000 fresh meals daily. It explores the challenges of maintaining quality, consistency, and hygiene, as well as the dedication to preparing food from scratch. The airline’s commitment to luxury extends even to economy class, offering a variety of special dietary options. The script also contrasts Qatar Airways' operations with the evolution of airline food in the US, where cost-cutting measures have reduced meal quality in many carriers. Ultimately, it emphasizes the effort to cater to diverse passenger preferences while minimizing food waste.

Takeaways

• 😀 Qatar Airways prepares over 200,000 fresh meals a day, with a focus on quality and consistency in their catering process.
• 😀 The airline's catering operation is known for making almost everything from scratch, including items typically bought frozen by other airlines.
• 😀 Every meal is carefully tailored based on the flight's destination, route, and passenger demographics, with 50 meal choices for economy and 150 for business class.
• 😀 The facility operates under stringent hygiene protocols, with an air shower corridor to prevent contaminants from entering the kitchen.
• 😀 The team uses high-tech machines to handle produce, such as a bin that can wash 12,000 peppers a day and a machine that peels cantaloupes in under a minute.
• 😀 The meals are carefully monitored, and tasting is only done by senior chefs, ensuring they meet the company's strict quality standards.
• 😀 Qatar Airways serves halal meals in accordance with Islamic dietary laws, with a focus on local sourcing when possible despite the country's challenging climate for agriculture.
• 😀 The airline uses innovative techniques to prevent food safety issues, including a barcode system for traceability and cooling systems to maintain freshness.
• 😀 The meal preparation process includes using real silverware for presentation, a practice that enhances the luxury experience for passengers, especially in business class.
• 😀 Qatar Airways continually collects feedback from passengers to adjust their menus and reduce food waste, ensuring that the meals served align with passengers' preferences.
• 😀 The airline has faced increasing competition from other global carriers, with state-owned airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines maintaining an edge due to their resources and scale.

Q & A

What makes the Qatar Airways catering kitchen in Doha unique?

The Qatar Airways catering kitchen in Doha is unique because it prepares more than 200,000 fresh meals a day, including for short-haul flights, and ensures that all meals are made from scratch with fresh ingredients. The facility is also highly regulated, with strict food safety protocols like air showers to prevent contamination.

Why do the chefs at Qatar Airways emphasize making food from scratch?

The chefs at Qatar Airways emphasize making food from scratch to ensure consistency, quality, and a luxurious experience for passengers, especially in economy class. This focus on scratch-made meals helps maintain high culinary standards, even on short-haul flights.

How does Qatar Airways ensure food safety and traceability?

Qatar Airways ensures food safety and traceability by using barcodes on food trays, which allows them to track each dish from its creation to assembly. This system helps monitor food safety and quickly investigate any potential issues.

What are some of the challenges faced by airlines when preparing in-flight meals?

Some challenges include the need to maintain food quality at high altitudes, where passengers' taste buds are less sensitive, and ensuring precise reheating in-flight. Airlines must also deal with the scale of operation, like serving thousands of meals and managing special dietary requirements.

How does Qatar Airways adapt its meals based on the demographics of each flight?

Qatar Airways adapts its meals based on the demographics of each flight by tailoring dishes to specific regional tastes. For instance, flights with heavy traffic from the Indian subcontinent may include aloo tikki, while other flights may feature different cuisines based on passenger preferences.

What is the significance of the food preparation process at Qatar Airways?

The food preparation process at Qatar Airways is significant because it emphasizes the use of fresh, high-quality ingredients and involves advanced machinery for efficiency. This attention to detail ensures that passengers receive high-quality meals, even on long-haul flights.

What is the role of the 'golden sample' in meal preparation at Qatar Airways?

The 'golden sample' acts as a reference point for the food preparation process at Qatar Airways. It ensures consistency and quality by serving as the ideal version of the meal, which the workers use to guide the portioning and packaging of the final dishes.

Why did the standard of in-flight food change in the U.S. over the years?

The standard of in-flight food in the U.S. changed due to deregulation in 1978, which led airlines to cut costs by reducing meal offerings. The focus shifted toward budget-friendly options, and as a result, meals became simpler and less luxurious, especially in economy class.

How do modern planes help improve the quality of in-flight meals?

Modern planes, like the A350, A380, and 787, improve the quality of in-flight meals by having cabins pressurized to lower altitudes (6,000 feet), which helps preserve food quality. Additionally, these planes have higher humidity levels, making meals less dry and more flavorful.

How does Qatar Airways manage food waste and improve customer satisfaction with meals?

Qatar Airways manages food waste and improves customer satisfaction by collecting feedback from passengers through flight attendants and using this data to adjust meal offerings. By tracking which dishes are preferred and which are left uneaten, they reduce waste and better cater to passengers' tastes.