Behind the scenes: A heavenly meal

Take a peek into the biggest kitchen at Riga Airport to see how your meal is prepared!
Since the updated pre-order menu launch on October 21, airBaltic has sold over 81,000 pre-orders, 73% of which were served on flights taking off from Riga. So far, the top routes for pre-orders have been Riga–Tenerife–Riga, Riga–Dubai–Riga, and Tallinn–Tenerife–Tallinn. Hot meals made up 65% of all meal sales, with the top hot meals being the omelette with bacon, the fried chicken fillet, and cottage cheese scones. The passengers also loved salads, particularly the salmon mustard salad, the chicken Caesar salad, and the shrimp poke bowl. From the drinks selection, top positions have been taken by cold refreshments.

All the pre-ordered meals are carefully prepared at airBaltic’s hubs in Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn by our long-term partner Airo Catering Services Latvija, better known as LSG, under the watchful eye of head chef Andris Vasiļonoks.

Andris Vasiļonoks has been working for top Baltic restaurants for 30 years. For over 15 years now, he’s been a proud member of LSG’s line-up of chefs, eventually being promoted to head chef. Thanks to his immense experience, he knows how to use the finest ingredients to prepare the best dishes from Baltic and European cuisines. But he never stops experimenting.

‘Travelling and regular meetings with colleagues from all over the world help me to improve myself and inspire me to create new dishes,’ says Vasiļonoks. ‘I also like introducing the latest cooking trends to my kitchen, which helps create a menu that lets passengers enjoy a delicious meal on board.’

Every meal is prepared from the freshest seasonal ingredients, which are sourced from trusted local suppliers. Drawing inspiration from global cuisines and the latest food trends, as well as a rich variety of spices, ensures that every dish is packed with exceptional flavour.

Every morning, after the meals are prepared, they are securely placed in special temperature-controlled trolleys. Meals are made following strict European Union food safety regulations, ensuring top-tier hygiene standards.

The trolleys are transported in trucks and carefully loaded onto the aircraft using high-loaders, ensuring the shortest possible time between preparation and onboard service. On average, loading is completed 30 to 60 minutes before the estimated time of departure.

Aircraft galley loading is carried out according to strict standards and procedures, with each meal, item, and piece of equipment placed in its designated spot. On Airbus A220-300 aircraft, this process is efficiently managed across two galleys – one at the front and one at the rear – to enhance service flow and operational efficiency.

Once the aircraft is airborne, the crew begins the service by preparing trolleys and heating hot meals, a process that takes approximately 15–20 minutes. If there are many pre-ordered hot meals, heating is done in two rounds due to limited oven space. After preparation, the crew efficiently distributes the meals so passengers can enjoy their dining experience onboard.

Due to strict food safety standards, preparation of the in-flight meals requires consideration of multiple factors. At cruising altitude – approximately 10,000 meters (33,000 feet) – the perception of taste changes significantly. Cabin pressure, low humidity, dry air, engine noise and travel-related stress decrease taste sensitivity up to 20–30%, making food appear bland or flat. Chefs have to balance seasoning, often enhancing meals with salt, spices, and acidic components like lemon juice. Packaging also plays a critical role in aviation catering. It has to be made from food-safe materials, withstand pressure changes, and be suitable for onboard heating processes.

And ready to be served! Explore our pre-order menu while booking a flight ticket. You can even mix and match your favourite dishes to create a personalised dining experience tailored to your taste. Already booked your ticket without pre-ordering a meal? Don’t worry – you can still add a meal later, although only the set menus are available at that point. However, a full transition to the new mix-and-match pre-order concept will be complete later this year.