Option 1: Forfeit

Japan Airlines has found a simple solution to the problem, but one that is rather unsatisfactory for passengers: you simply voluntarily forgo the food on board.

This "service" is called "Meal Skip Option" – instead of the menu on the flight, the airline makes a donation to a project aimed at combating hunger in developing countries. So far, only two to three out of 100 passengers have taken advantage of the option to forgo the meal.

However, long-term savings are expected over time, and other airlines see it similarly and now offer similar options.

Option 2: Pre-order

The main problem with eating on board is that the menus are prepared before the flight, and everything that is not eaten on the plane ends up in the trash. Some airlines have decided that a pre-order option helps mitigate this issue. With the airlines of the Lufthansa Group, there are now partial options for pre-ordering. At Lufthansa, for example, passengers on short and medium-haul flights can pre-order fresh products online up to 36 hours before departure. With this pre-order system, the food requirements can be planned as accurately as possible, helping to avoid food waste.

Option 3: Doggy Bag

It's a familiar scenario from a restaurant visit: the portion was too large, but the delicious food is too good to throw away. This is where the so-called doggy bag comes into play, and airlines are applying a similar principle. To repurpose unconsumed food from a flight, passengers can take it with them at a reduced price. On European flights to Vienna, passengers can purchase surplus fresh food shortly before landing for 3.50 euros. The airline calls this "Austrian Melangerie to go." In just one year, more than two tons of food were sold this way and did not end up in the trash.