It is estimated that in 2027, the global airline catering services market will amount to approximately 21.8 billion U.S. dollars. Airline catering industry in the U.S. As low-cost carriers (LCCs) entered the aviation market, the traditional aviation services got disrupted immensely. One of the impacts of the structural changes within the aviation industry was on the airline catering services because traditional air carriers started to rethink the in-flight food provisioning. Despite all, people need food or some basic nourishments during a travel journey. In upcoming years, slow but steady growth in global airline catering services is expected. In 2019, the market size of the U.S. airline catering services was roughly 5.5 billion U.S. dollars. During that period, this industry employed over 61,000 people in the U.S. Enterprises in the U.S. air catering market Since 2017, the number of firms in this market has experienced a growth path even amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Each large air carrier has a main in-flight food provider, mostly owned vertically within their own business unit. In 2019, there were approximately 295 businesses in the U.S. airline catering services market to supply the aviation industry with food. In that same year, the U.S. airline catering service enterprises incurred approximately 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in wage costs.

The Inflight Catering Market Report is Segmented by Food Type (Meals, Bakery and Confectionery, Beverages, and Other Food Types), Flight Type (Full-Service Carriers and Low-Cost Carriers), Aircraft Seating Class (Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class), Catering Type (Retail On Board and Classic Catering), Flight Duration (Long Haul and Short Haul), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa). The Report Offers Market Size and Forecast for all the Above Segments in Value (USD).

Inflight Catering Market size was valued at USD 17.16 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 25.88 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.58% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

Global Inflight Catering Market Drivers

The market drivers for the Inflight Catering Market can be influenced by various factors. These may include:

Growth in Air Passenger Traffic: The in-flight catering business is significantly influenced by the steady increase in air passenger traffic, which is fueled by factors including rising disposable incomes, an expanding middle class, and an increase in tourism. The market is driven by an increase in the demand for in-flight amenities and meals as more people travel by air.
Focus on Passenger Experience: In an effort to obtain a competitive advantage, airlines are placing a greater emphasis on improving the overall passenger experience. High-quality food and services may greatly increase passenger happiness and loyalty, which is why in-flight catering is so important. As a result, airlines are making investments to raise the caliber, diversity, and presentation of their onboard meals.
Preferences of Airlines for Outsourcing: Rather than handling their catering internally, several airlines would rather contract with specialized businesses. Airlines may lower expenses, boost productivity, and get access to a greater variety of food alternatives through outsourcing. Because of this, there is a growing need for specialty in-flight food services, which is propelling market expansion.
Regulatory Requirements: Aviation authorities are subject to stringent laws concerning the safety and hygienic practices of food served during flights. Because of the specialized knowledge and infrastructure needed to comply with these rules, airlines must rely on reputable catering businesses. Therefore, one of the main factors driving the in-flight catering market is the requirement to comply with regulations.
Increasing aviation Competition: To stand out from the competition and draw in more customers, airlines compete fiercely in the aviation sector. One way airlines try to differentiate themselves is by providing excellent in-flight meals and services. Airlines are concentrating more on enhancing their in-flight catering options as competition heats up, which is propelling market expansion.
Innovations in Food Packaging and Delivery: The industry for in-flight catering has seen a radical transformation because to developments in food packaging and delivery technologies. These developments enable airlines to provide customers with a greater selection of freshly prepared, premium meals—even on lengthy trips. Improving the whole in-flight dining experience, improved food packaging also contributes to the preservation of food quality and freshness.
Shifting Customer Preferences: Over time, travelers’ tastes for meals on flights have changed. Passengers today have a wider range of food choices and restrictions in addition to being more health-conscious. In response to these shifting consumer tastes, airlines are expanding their selection of in-flight meal options to include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and organic options. The in-flight catering sector is growing and innovating to meet these changing consumer requirements.

The Report Covers North America In-Flight Catering Market Service Providers & Companies and It is segmented by aircraft seating class, flight service type, and geography. By aircraft seating class, the market has been segmented into economy class, business class, and first class. By flight service type, the market has been segmented into full-service carriers and low-cost carriers. By Geography, the market has been segmented into the United States of America and Canada. Moreover, the report offers a market forecast represented by USD million.

In-flight Catering Services Market size was valued at around USD 22 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach around USD 34 billion by 2030 along with a CAGR of 9.12%.

In 2020, the meal segment in the airline catering market accounted for over four billion U.S. dollars worldwide. By 2027, the global airline catering market is expected to reach approximately 21.8 billion U.S. dollars.

The Asia-Pacific Inflight Catering Services Market is Segmented by Aircraft Seating Class (Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class), Flight Type (Full-Service Carriers and Low-Cost Carriers), Food Type (Meals, Bakery, and Confectionery, Beverages, and Other Food Types), and Geography (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific). The Report Offers Market Size and Forecast for all the Above Segments in Value (USD).

The Report Covers Europe Airport Catering Companies and is Segmented by Aircraft Seating Class (Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class), Flight Type (Full-service Carriers, Low-cost Carriers, and Other Flight Types), Food Type (Meals, Bakery and Confectionery, Beverages, and Other Food Types), and Geography (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe). The market size and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD million) for all the above segments.

It is estimated that in 2026, the European airline catering services market will amount to approximately 8.4 billion U.S. dollars. In December 2020, Lufthansa's subsidiary, LSG Group, which was responsible for airline catering services, was acquired by Gategroup.

The Asia-Pacific and Middle-East Inflight Catering Market Report is Segmented by Food Type (meals, Bakery and Confectionery, Beverages, and Other Food Types), Flight Type (full-Service Carriers, Low-Cost Carriers, Hybrid, and Other Flight Types), Aircraft Seating Class (economy Class, Business Class, and First Class), and Geography (Asia-Pacific and Middle-East). The Report Offers Market Size and Forecasts for all the Above Segments in Value (USD).

Global Inflight Catering Market will grow at a CAGR of 7.00% during the forecast period, with an estimated size and share crossing USD 17,690.86 million by 2032.

The North America Inflight Catering Market, valued at USD 3.48 billion in 2024, is projected to grow at a 12.4% CAGR from 2025-2030, driven by key trends and opportunities.

The global inflight catering services market size was valued at USD 9647.01 million in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.00% from 2024 to 2032.

The size and share of the market is categorized based on Type (Full-Service Catering, Individual Meal Service) and Application (Commercial Airlines, Private Jets) and geographical regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle-East and Africa).

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Aviation Catering market size is USD 16841.2 million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 6736.48 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 5052.36 million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 3873.48 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share for more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 842.06 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD 336.82 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2024 to 2031.
The Meals held the highest Aviation Catering market revenue share in 2024.

Market Dynamics of Aviation Catering Market

Key Drivers for Aviation Catering Market

Growth of Air Travel to Increase the Demand Globally

The aviation industry is experiencing a substantial boom, marked with the aid of regular growth in international passenger numbers. This surge in air tours has caused a corresponding rise in demand for in-flight catering services, as airways attempt to enhance passenger experience with various superb meal options. Catering organizations are expanding their operations to meet this developing need and specialize in innovation, sustainability, and customization to cater to varied dietary preferences and cultural tastes. As airways compete to draw and preserve clients, in-flight catering has end up a critical issue of their service offerings, driving the enterprise closer to continuous improvement and expansion.

Rising Disposable Income to Propel Market Growth

Rising disposable incomes in lots of areas have made air tour extra available to a bigger population. With more people able to find the money for flights, the wide variety of air travelers has surged, mainly due to improved demand for aviation catering services. As tourists are trying to find quality dining experiences through their flights, catering agencies take advantage of a developing customer base. This trend has precipitated catering vendors to innovate and diversify their menus to meet the varying preferences and nutritional desires of passengers. Consequently, the aviation catering industry is experiencing a robust increase, driven by the better spending energy of individuals and their increased propensity to travel by air.

Restraint Factor for the Aviation Catering Market

High Cost of Operation to Limit the Sales

Aviation catering companies grapple with high working fees due to stringent regulations on meal protection and hygiene, which necessitate vast investment in compliance measures. Maintaining these requirements entails rigorous satisfactory control, ordinary inspections, and specialized schooling for the body of workers, all of which are pricey. Additionally, fluctuating fuel costs impact transportation expenses, similarly raising up expenses. The use of perishable ingredients adds another layer of complexity, requiring efficient supply chain management to save you spoilage and waste. These elements collectively make contributions to the high working prices faced by aviation catering agencies, challenging them to stability value management while turning in brilliant meals to satisfy passenger expectancies.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Aviation Catering Market

The COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted the aviation catering marketplace, as considerable travel regulations and reduced passenger numbers brought about a sharp decline in calls. Airlines cut lower back on in-flight offerings, and lots of catering companies confronted tremendous economic losses. The cognizance shifted to making sure fitness and safety, main to accelerated expenses for more desirable hygiene protocols and packaging. However, as the journey steadily resumes, the market is beginning to recover. There's a developing emphasis on pre-packaged and contactless food to decrease risk. Additio...

It is estimated that in 2026, the North American airline catering services market will amount to just over 7.5 billion U.S. dollars. In 2019, the U.S. airline catering services market size was roughly 5.6 billion U.S. dollars.

Global Inflight Catering Services Market reached US$ 16.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 30 billion by 2031

Latin America Inflight Services Industry is Segmented by Aircraft Seating Class (Economy Class, Business Class, First Class), Flight Service Type (Full Service Carriers, Low-cost Carriers, Hybrid, and Other Seating Class), Food Type (Meals, Bakery, and Confectionery, Beverages, Other Types of Food), and Geography (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Rest of Latin America).

This statistic illustrates the market size of airline catering services in the United States from 2018 to 2021. In 2021, airline catering services in the U.S. were valued at just under three billion U.S. dollars.

The Saudi Arabia Inflight Catering Market Report is Segmented by Meals (Snacks, Fruits & Salad, Bread, Bakery Items and Confectionery, Meals, and Beverages), Flight Service Type (Full-Service Carriers and Low-Cost Carriers), Aircraft Seating Class (Premium Economy Class, Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class), Flight Duration (Long Haul, Medium Haul, and Short Haul), and Food Type (Forzen and Fresh). The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value in USD for all the Above Segments.