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ANA, Japan’s leading airline, has begun introducing a newly expanded halal menu for its in-flight meals to address the wide range of dietary needs by a growing number of international ANA passengers.
“At ANA we pride ourselves on our attention to detail and for conveying the spirit of Japanese hospitality,” said Tetsuo Fukuda, ANA Executive Vice President of CS & Products Services, Corporate Planning. “As a 5-star rated airline, we will continue to strive to meet the discerning requests of our international guests and accommodate their wide range of dietary profiles.”
Japan is host to a growing number of international visitors, with notable increases from majority Muslim countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, which are up 33.4% and 16.1%, respectively between January and May. ANA will launch daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from Tokyo beginning September 1.
Since January 2014, ANA has partnered with Brahim’s Holdings Berhad, a Malaysia-based company and the world’s largest purveyor of halal cuisine, to provide halal-certified meals aboard ANA flights. Through the partnership ANA Catering Service, which is responsible for all in-flight meals and beverages for the ANA Group, has obtained certification to produce halal cuisine at its facility in Kawasaki. ANA began serving halal-certified "arare" rice crackers on all international flights in June.
This month, ANA is offering halal-certified Japanese style chicken curry created in collaboration with Brahim’s, as a light meal option. The new menu item will be available on First Class flights between Tokyo and Europe and Singapore, on First Class Tokyo departures to North America, in Business Class travel between Tokyo and Jakarta, as well as the upcoming Tokyo-Kuala Lumpur route.
On September 1, ANA Business Class and Economy Class passengers will have the choice of organic “Sunpu Aoido Shizuoka Green Tea,” the first green tea in Japan to receive halal certification. On the same day, ANA will also begin serving a high-quality, non-alcoholic sparkling rosé wine in all First Class cabins, which will also be available for a limited time in the Business Class cabin of the upcoming Tokyo-Kuala Lumpur flight, to commemorate the launch of the service. All in-flight meals on Kuala Lumpur departures to Tokyo supplied from Brahim’s will be halal-certified.
© Japan Today
6 Comments
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nath
Um, do most visitors from the said countries travel first class and business class? If so, give us some numbers, because the practicing Muslims in the cattle section of the plane might be offended.
Personally, I order Muslims meals 24 hours before departure on Delta International Flights. It is the best they got. Usually salmon roasted and sashimi. I have tried the vegetarian, kosher, diabetes and even the kids menus. The Muslim one is the best. And no I am not Muslim. I am a non-kosher Jew. Go with the Muslim meal folks.
WilliB
International? No, muslim. "International" travellers do not need halal. And those who think god only wants them to eat animals killed by cutting their throat, facing to mekka, and to islamic prayers can always eat vegetarian... no fatwah against that.
If ANA wants to go down the road of dhimmitude, what is next? Veiled flight attentents? Their bare skin and and make-up is most certainly haram.
It is disheartening reading stories like this.
JeffLee
I wonder if it has to be ordered in advance? Some frequent flyer experts say the religious meals are usually higher quality than what they serve secular chumps.
nath
Jeff: I already said that above. I only order the Muslim meal when I am in the back cattle section. ANA is still not offering it back there for some reason.
M3M3M3
It's a good idea to satisfy everone's needs, as long as they start with all of the real needs (allergies, intolerances, etc) before moving onto the imaginary ones.
Nshaikh
nice gesture one word thank you ANA Just to add my mother travelled in May from India and she had nice time and good halal food.