Vegan airline food can be confusing, as well as needing to be ordered specially, there’s a whole range of confusing terminology involved that can leave even the most dedicated plant-based foodie feeling puzzled and perplexed. But now one airline has introduced a new, completely vegan range of gourmet meals for its premium customers.

Qatar Airways has introduced its first range of fully vegan dishes to its à la carte menu for Business Class passengers on all flights. The newly crafted vegan dishes are designed to cater to the increasing demand for plant-based food.

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The newly crafted vegan dishes use only the freshest locally and internationally sourced ingredients and are available to all business class passengers flying from the airline’s Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, and selected flights into Doha.

The new range of vegan dishes includes smoked moutabel, spiral courgettes and arrabbiata sauce, tofu and spinach tortellini, asian barbecue tofu, noodles, scallions and shiitake, fried tofu with vegetable tajine, cauliflower couscous and kalamata bruschetta, and chickpea flour omelette.

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Vegan airline food codes

Airlines have some fairly confusing terminology for vegan and vegetarian meals, including vegetarian lacto-ovo, vegetarian oriental and asian vegetarian meals. On top of that, they tend to use shorthand codes, which can be confusing for normal human beings.

When flying as a vegan, familiarise yourself with this terminology.

• VGML — Vegetarian Vegan Meal. Free from animal products like meat, dairy, eggs and honey. However, typically comes with the same bread served to the rest of the cabin (not always vegan-friendly), plus butter and dairy milk for tea/coffee.
• VLML — Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal. Traditional vegetarian dish with no fish or meat, can contain other animal products such as eggs, dairy and honey.
• VOML — Vegetarian Oriental Meal. Typically found on Asian airlines and often vegan. Dishes include vegetables with rice. Also often gluten free.
• AVML — Asian Vegetarian Meal. Generally not vegan, and typically includes spiced vegetables prepared with ghee, and dairy products like cheese.
• VJML — Vegetarian Jain Meal. Generally a very safe option for vegans, as this meal is made in accordance with Jainism religious principles. (i.e. only contains fruit and vegetables that grow above the ground, with zero animal products.)
• RVML — Raw Vegetable Meal. A safe vegan dish, made exclusively from a selection of raw fruits and vegetables.
• FPML — Fruit Platter. Ideal for fruitarians.

While the range isn’t available outside of the business class cabin, economy class passengers can continue to pre-order special vegan meals ahead of their scheduled travel date with the airline.

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