Blab Business
Lufthansa Expands Onboard Delights with New Hot Meals and Business-Class Pre-Selection
Lufthansa Group lifted the curtain on a fresh culinary offering on 1 September 2026, adding five hot meals to its Onboard Delights menu for short‑ and medium‑haul flights and widening the pre‑selection window for Business‑Class passengers on long‑haul routes that return to Germany.
The new hot‑meal selection will be available exclusively through pre‑order on continental flights that last two hours or more. Passengers can place orders as early as four weeks and as late as 24 hours before departure. In Business Class, the pre‑selection window will mirror this schedule, and the menu will expand from three to six main courses.
Since its launch in February 2023, Lufthansa’s Onboard Delights program has steadily grown. The service sells fresh meals, snacks and beverages to Economy‑class passengers on European flights of 45 minutes or longer, and the latest additions are part of the airline’s broader strategy to enhance the passenger experience and drive ancillary revenue.
The five hot meals are:
Beef roulade with potato dumplings, served with a dessert Chicken teriyaki, served with a dessert Tortellini in tomato sauce with zucchini, served with a dessert “Die Echte” currywurst from Dönninghaus, served with a roll * Cheeseburger from “HANS IM GLÜCK”, served with a roll
"With these hot meals, we’re expanding Onboard Delights to offer our passengers on longer continental flights an additional selection. Pre‑ordering guarantees our guests that their desired meal will be waiting for them on board – for a relaxed and predictable journey," said Olaf Mauthe, Head of Hospitality Catering Management at Lufthansa.
The Business‑class pre‑selection service first appeared in August 2023 on flights departing from Frankfurt and Munich. Beginning 1 September, the service will extend to most long‑haul flights returning to Germany, giving passengers a wider choice of six main courses.
This expansion fits into Lufthansa’s broader plan to improve the in‑flight experience across its fleet. The airline, the second‑largest group in Europe and a founding member of Star Alliance, operates primarily out of Frankfurt Airport with a secondary hub at Munich.
While the Onboard Delights program remains available for Economy‑class passengers on short‑ and medium‑haul flights, the new hot meals are limited to continental routes of at least two hours. The pre‑order window aligns with the airline’s existing policy, which allows orders from four weeks to 24 hours for flights departing from Germany and 18 hours for flights to Germany.
The menu items are sourced from regional suppliers, including Dönninghaus and the Munich‑based Hans im Glück, and are part of Lufthansa’s partnership with the coffee house Dallmayr, which supplies confectionery, patisserie specialties and hot beverages for the program.
The move comes as airlines look to diversify ancillary revenue streams amid volatile fuel costs and evolving passenger expectations. By offering a broader selection of pre‑ordered meals, Lufthansa aims to boost on‑board sales while giving passengers greater control over their dining experience.
As of 1 September, the updated hot‑meal menu will be live on the airline’s website and mobile app. Business‑class passengers will see the expanded pre‑selection list in the same booking interface. Lufthansa has not yet released pricing details for the new hot meals, but the company has historically priced Onboard Delights items at a premium to the complimentary meals offered on long‑haul flights.
The airline’s latest changes are part of a series of service enhancements announced over the past year, including the introduction of a new loyalty‑points program for Onboard Delights purchases and the expansion of the program to long‑haul economy and premium‑economy cabins.
In summary, Lufthansa is adding five hot meals to its Onboard Delights menu for short‑ and medium‑haul flights and expanding the pre‑selection option for Business‑class passengers on long‑haul routes returning to Germany. The changes take effect on 1 September 2026 and are expected to increase ancillary revenue while giving passengers more dining flexibility.
The airline has not yet disclosed the financial impact of the new menu items, and it remains unclear how the expanded Business‑class pre‑selection will affect overall passenger satisfaction or revenue. Lufthansa will likely report on the performance of the updated offerings in its next quarterly earnings release.
The new hot‑meal selection will be available exclusively through pre‑order on continental flights that last two hours or more. Passengers can place orders as early as four weeks and as late as 24 hours before departure. In Business Class, the pre‑selection window will mirror this schedule, and the menu will expand from three to six main courses.
Since its launch in February 2023, Lufthansa’s Onboard Delights program has steadily grown. The service sells fresh meals, snacks and beverages to Economy‑class passengers on European flights of 45 minutes or longer, and the latest additions are part of the airline’s broader strategy to enhance the passenger experience and drive ancillary revenue.
The five hot meals are:
Beef roulade with potato dumplings, served with a dessert Chicken teriyaki, served with a dessert Tortellini in tomato sauce with zucchini, served with a dessert “Die Echte” currywurst from Dönninghaus, served with a roll * Cheeseburger from “HANS IM GLÜCK”, served with a roll
"With these hot meals, we’re expanding Onboard Delights to offer our passengers on longer continental flights an additional selection. Pre‑ordering guarantees our guests that their desired meal will be waiting for them on board – for a relaxed and predictable journey," said Olaf Mauthe, Head of Hospitality Catering Management at Lufthansa.
The Business‑class pre‑selection service first appeared in August 2023 on flights departing from Frankfurt and Munich. Beginning 1 September, the service will extend to most long‑haul flights returning to Germany, giving passengers a wider choice of six main courses.
This expansion fits into Lufthansa’s broader plan to improve the in‑flight experience across its fleet. The airline, the second‑largest group in Europe and a founding member of Star Alliance, operates primarily out of Frankfurt Airport with a secondary hub at Munich.
While the Onboard Delights program remains available for Economy‑class passengers on short‑ and medium‑haul flights, the new hot meals are limited to continental routes of at least two hours. The pre‑order window aligns with the airline’s existing policy, which allows orders from four weeks to 24 hours for flights departing from Germany and 18 hours for flights to Germany.
The menu items are sourced from regional suppliers, including Dönninghaus and the Munich‑based Hans im Glück, and are part of Lufthansa’s partnership with the coffee house Dallmayr, which supplies confectionery, patisserie specialties and hot beverages for the program.
The move comes as airlines look to diversify ancillary revenue streams amid volatile fuel costs and evolving passenger expectations. By offering a broader selection of pre‑ordered meals, Lufthansa aims to boost on‑board sales while giving passengers greater control over their dining experience.
As of 1 September, the updated hot‑meal menu will be live on the airline’s website and mobile app. Business‑class passengers will see the expanded pre‑selection list in the same booking interface. Lufthansa has not yet released pricing details for the new hot meals, but the company has historically priced Onboard Delights items at a premium to the complimentary meals offered on long‑haul flights.
The airline’s latest changes are part of a series of service enhancements announced over the past year, including the introduction of a new loyalty‑points program for Onboard Delights purchases and the expansion of the program to long‑haul economy and premium‑economy cabins.
In summary, Lufthansa is adding five hot meals to its Onboard Delights menu for short‑ and medium‑haul flights and expanding the pre‑selection option for Business‑class passengers on long‑haul routes returning to Germany. The changes take effect on 1 September 2026 and are expected to increase ancillary revenue while giving passengers more dining flexibility.
The airline has not yet disclosed the financial impact of the new menu items, and it remains unclear how the expanded Business‑class pre‑selection will affect overall passenger satisfaction or revenue. Lufthansa will likely report on the performance of the updated offerings in its next quarterly earnings release.
