Delta Air Lines is redefining the journey experience, understanding that memorable meals are as integral to travel as the destination itself. Kristen Manion Taylor, S.V.P. of Inflight Service at Delta Air Lines, emphasizes this commitment: “Memorable meals are part of the travel experience – whether you’re 35,000 feet in the air or exploring the streets of your destination. This is why we work with the best chefs, sommeliers and partners to keep our onboard food and beverage program fresh — because a thoughtfully curated in-flight menu can turn routine travel into an unforgettable journey.” This dedication is showcased through their refreshed wine program, seasonal flavors, new menus, and enhanced snack options, ensuring every passenger enjoys a superior Delta Food Menu.
Discoveries in the Delta Wine Program
Wine enthusiasts will find much to celebrate with Delta’s revitalized wine list, introducing a spectrum of new varietals and flavor profiles to their already leading inflight wine program. In a meticulous process led by master sommelier Andrea Robinson, Delta’s team sampled thousands of wines to curate a list of 20 exceptional selections. This range includes rare white wines from Tuscany to robust California Cabernets, reflecting a global palate and commitment to quality.
Manion Taylor shares an anecdote that perfectly encapsulates the program’s success: “The biggest compliment is when a customer says to me ‘I bought this bottle after I discovered it on my last flight.’ It really cements how we’re thinking about our wine program – we want your onboard experience to be one where you can discover new varietals, or sip on your go-to pinot.” This focus on discovery and personal preference elevates the delta food menu beyond mere sustenance to an in-flight wine journey.
Selection of premium wines featured in Delta Air Lines’ inflight wine program, offering a diverse range from white to red to cater to varied palates.
Delta’s commitment extends beyond taste, ensuring that each wine partner aligns with their values of diversity and sustainability. This vetting process guarantees that the wines not only complement the onboard meals but also represent the diverse global wine community.
Further enhancing the wine service, Delta invests in its unique Sky Sommelier program. Flight attendant leaders on transoceanic flights undergo four specialized courses developed with Andrea Robinson. These courses cover a broad spectrum of wine knowledge, including wine styles, grape varietals, and Delta’s standards for wine presentation and service. This investment in staff training underscores Delta’s dedication to providing best-in-class service alongside an exceptional delta food menu.
“Even as we invest in our onboard experience, we know that nothing is more important than the warmth and care of a Delta employee,” Manion Taylor explains. “We’re expanding training for our people to enhance the best-in-class service we’re known for.”
A Delta flight attendant expertly serves wine, showcasing the airline’s commitment to providing passengers with a personalized and high-quality inflight dining experience.
Highlights from this year’s curated wine program include:
- Domaine Bousquet Reserve Organic Malbec: Hailing from a woman-led winery in Mendoza, Argentina, this Malbec offers classic varietal expression with wild dark berry fruit, subtle violet notes, and a smooth tannin texture. It’s an ideal pairing for richer dishes like cocoa-braised short rib, enhancing the delta food menu‘s premium offerings.
- Barbanera in Bianco: An intriguing white wine from Tuscany, Italy, crafted from Sangiovese grapes. Through a unique winemaking process, the grapes are quickly pressed, preventing the typical red wine characteristics and resulting in a refreshing white. With red fruit notes, citrus, and tree fruit tones, it pairs beautifully with seafood and firm cheeses, expanding the delta food menu‘s versatility.
- Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc: From South Africa’s Stellenbosch region, this Chenin Blanc comes from a leading producer in the country. Its profile is designed to complement spicy dishes, as well as full-flavored fish or chicken, demonstrating the thoughtful pairings within the delta food menu.
- Hahn Chardonnay: Benefiting from the cool Monterey Bay breezes, this Chardonnay is elegantly balanced and vegan-friendly. Melon and grilled pineapple flavors, with a hint of oak, make it a superb match for dishes like Chef Mashama Bailey’s chilled roast chicken salad, illustrating the delta food menu‘s diverse and contemporary choices.
- Albert Bichot Pouilly-Fuissé: Originating from Burgundy, France, this Pouilly-Fuissé is both lively and aromatic. Dry on the palate, it presents white fruit and spice notes, subtly underpinned by oak and vanilla. It is recommended with buttery seafood and creamy pastas, such as butternut ravioli, showcasing the sophisticated pairings available in the delta food menu.
An enticing visual representing Delta’s Q4 2024 inflight dining enhancements, including seasonal wines and chef-designed meals and snacks, promising a delightful culinary experience.
The thoughtfully curated wine selection extends across different cabins, ensuring a premium experience for every passenger:
- Delta One: Passengers can indulge in a selection of two red wines, two white wines, rosé, champagne, and port. The wine list is updated seasonally, drawing from a selection of over 20 labels, providing a dynamic and top-tier delta food menu experience.
- First Class: Offers premium selections with 750ml pour bottle options. First Class customers can choose from one white and one red option, ensuring a high-quality and personalized delta food menu selection.
- Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin: On long-haul international routes, passengers can enjoy a complimentary white or red wine. For domestic and shorter international routes, the delta food menu includes familiar and favored brands like Imagery Estate and Une Femme, complimentary in Delta Comfort+ and available for purchase in Main Cabin.
Seasonal Flavors and Innovative Menus
Delta is introducing exciting new menus across Delta One, First Class, and Delta Premium Select cabins on both domestic and international flights. Passengers can look forward to regional, comforting, and chef-designed dishes. Highlights include cocoa-braised short rib with creamy polenta, crafted in partnership with Union Square Events, and Chef Mashama Bailey’s signature pecan honey bun with apple-cranberry compote for breakfast. These collaborations elevate the delta food menu to a restaurant-quality experience in the sky.
“Delta teams work hard to design a menu that’s delicious and works well at 35,000 feet,” explains Manion Taylor. “Our goal is to serve you familiar and comforting foods with a sophisticated twist, while offering variety and well-rounded meals to keep you feeling your best while traveling.”
Customer feedback is central to menu development. Delta’s in-house chefs and nutritionists, along with expert partners worldwide, use historical data on meal preferences to refine and tailor the delta food menu. This data-driven approach ensures a dining experience that is fresh, consistent, and aligned with passenger desires.
For an enhanced experience, Delta One, First Class, and Delta Premium Select passengers can pre-select their meals up to seven days before their flight, choosing from an extended “limited selection” menu. This pre-selection service further personalizes the delta food menu and ensures passenger satisfaction.
Menu highlights on flights over 900 miles include:
Delta One’s cocoa-braised short rib with creamy polenta, broccoli, and carrots, a fan-favorite dish reflecting the premium dining options available on select flights.
Also pictured is the fall-forward butternut squash ravioli with beurre blanc, pumpkin seeds, pickled squash and mild Fresno chiles.
Chef Guy Martin’s Delta One entrees on flights from CDG to the U.S., including braised beef with red wine sauce, roasted chicken breast with cranberry and chicken jus, and zucchini and cheese cannelloni, highlighting the international culinary collaborations.
Chef Martin is the chef of Le Grand Vefour restaurant in Paris, which has previously been awarded three Michelin stars.
Jon & Vinny’s braised meatballs, an iconic dish now available in Delta First Class on select domestic routes, part of the enhanced delta food menu.
Chef Mashama Bailey’s breakfast offerings in Delta First Class from Atlanta, including bacon and eggs, pecan honey bun, and Grey Market pecan granola, showcasing regional culinary partnerships.
Chef Mashama Bailey’s lunch and dinner menu in Delta First Class from Atlanta, with options like chilled roasted chicken salad and spinach ricotta ravioli, emphasizing fresh and flavorful inflight dining.
Introducing New Onboard Snacks for Purchase
Starting February 4th for a limited time, Delta is testing expanded snack options for purchase on select routes, acknowledging customer demand for more variety.
“We’ve heard from customers that they want more snacking options on board – this test will help us determine what works well while offering more alternatives,” said Stephanie Laster, Managing Director of Onboard Services. This initiative enhances the delta food menu‘s flexibility, catering to immediate cravings and preferences.
Delta’s new onboard snacks for purchase, featuring brands like Wonderful Pistachios®, SKITTLES®, Doritos®, Rold Gold®, and Jack Link’s®, offering a range of sweet and savory options.
Snack options available for purchase include:
- Wonderful Pistachios® Sea Salt & Pepper: $5
- SKITTLES® Original: $5
- Doritos® Minis, Nacho Cheese Flavored: $5
- Rold Gold® Selects® Doritos® Cool Ranch® Flavored Pretzel Twists: $5
- Jack Link’s® Doritos® Spicy Sweet Chili Flavored Beef Jerky: $10
These snacks are available on flights from ATL-LAX, LAX-ATL, ATL-SEA, SEA-ATL, LAX-SEA, SEA-LAX, while supplies last, providing a convenient and diverse delta food menu even for short-haul flights.
Complimentary Snack Selections
Delta continues to offer complimentary snacks on flights over 499 miles. All passengers can choose from four options: Lotus Biscoff cookies, 88 Acres dark chocolate sea salt seed and oat bar, 30K snack mix, or SunChips Garden Salsa flavored whole grain snacks.
Delta’s complimentary snack options for flights over 499 miles, including Lotus Biscoff cookies, 88 Acres bar, 30K snack mix, and SunChips, ensuring all passengers have access to satisfying treats.
Delta Comfort+ and First Class passengers on select domestic flights also enjoy a premium snack basket, featuring the iconic Lotus Biscoff cookie sandwich, enhancing the complimentary offerings within the delta food menu for premium cabins.
Premium snack basket in Delta Comfort+ and First Class, featuring the Lotus Biscoff cookie sandwich, providing an upgraded complimentary snack experience for premium passengers.
Sustainability Initiative: Paper Cups to Reduce Plastic Waste
Delta is taking significant steps towards sustainability by introducing new paper cups across its network. This initiative, starting with international routes and expanding network-wide in 2025, will eliminate nearly 7 million pounds of single-use plastic annually. This move aligns with Delta’s commitment to minimize single-use plastics onboard by 2025, showcasing a holistic approach to the delta food menu and inflight service.
[Sustainability] Sustainable science: How Delta is eliminating 7M pounds of single-use plastic on board with new paper cups
Delta’s dedication to enhancing the delta food menu is evident in every aspect of their inflight dining program. From partnering with renowned chefs and sommeliers to meticulously curating wine lists and snack options, Delta is committed to turning routine travel into an unforgettable culinary journey. Whether in Delta One, First Class, or Main Cabin, passengers can anticipate a dining experience that is both satisfying and sophisticated, reinforcing Delta’s position as a leader in inflight service and passenger experience.
