Campari, smoked salmon bagel: Qantas adds 70 new items to in-flight menu

The new Qantas domestic economy menu includes a focaccia with chorizo, pesto, bell peppers and Meredith goats cheese, a cheese board with an Australian salt bush chilli jam sandwich, cottage cheese and spinach samosas, triple choc brownie cookies and macadamia granola slices.

Customers travelling business class could look forward to a smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese, capers, pickled onions and English spinach leaves, a salad of miso-glazed chicken breast with brown rice, sweet potato and green beans with sesame dressing and dark chocolate sour cherry fondant cake.

The new economy and business menus will be rolled-out throughout October and meals will be offered on rotation across six meal times - breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper.

The menu features 70 new items, however some current items such as the popular Lindt Lindor balls will continue to be served. Qantas served over 2.8 million of the chocolates across the domestic network in 2023.

Qantas said it was collaborating with its suppliers to bring more sustainable food packaging onboard.

The new menu items come after the national carrier began serving hot food items on flights over two hours following customer feedback in May. The carrier also enhanced its spirits selection for business class passengers with Campari and Starward Whisky being served onboard.

Qantas is the only domestic airline to offer complimentary food and beverages, baggage, and onboard Wi-Fi on its domestic Boeing 737s and Airbus A330s in economy class.

Qantas' budget carrier, Jetstar, offers in-flight meals and drinks but customers pay for these. Their menu includes a ham and cheese toastie for $12, a small tube of Pringles for $5 and hot noodles for $8.

Among Virgin Australia's offerings are sandwiches and wraps for $12, small Pringles for $5 and hot meals - including penne pasta - for $16.

Money.com.au ranked Australia's top international airlines based on their average food and beverage ratings from review sites including Tripadvisor, ProductReview, and Skytrax, and found Qantas to be middle of the road.

The top international airline food went to Qatar Airways, followed by Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, and then Qantas. Making up the top 10 were Virgin Australia, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar and Scoot.

Money.com.au finance expert, Sean Callery, said Air New Zealand ranking ahead of Qantas in meal quality was "bound to ruffle a few feathers".

"It could stir up some friendly rivalry, but New Zealand's national carrier is clearly winning when it comes to serving up better in-flight meals," Mr Callery said.

Qatar Airways announced in October it planned to acquire 25 per cent of Virgin Australia, boosting competition in the local market.