Air France is raising the bar in in-flight dining with its newly launched Michelin-starred menus on flights from Paris to Cape Town and Johannesburg, catering to its discerning Business and Premium cabin customers. The new culinary offerings are part of a collaboration between Air France and top French chefs, including the recently awarded three-star Michelin chef Jérôme Banctel, renowned for his innovative approach and subtle flavour combinations.
Chef Banctel brings a refined touch to the Business cabin, drawing inspiration from his Brittany roots and employing creative techniques to evoke flavours that transcend the traditional. Featured dishes include chicken with buttermilk sauce, buckwheat risotto, and a uniquely seasoned haddock with carrot variations infused with orange and ginger—a showcase of the chef’s unique sauces that forgo butter and cream.
Complementing Banctel’s offerings, World Pastry Chef 2023, Nina Métayer, has crafted a range of sophisticated desserts for Air France, such as a decadent hazelnut and caramel pastry and a refreshing mango-coconut slice accented with lime. In the Premium cabin, one-star Michelin chef Frédéric Simonin delights passengers with carefully crafted dishes that honour each ingredient’s freshness and origin.
Air France’s dedication to culinary excellence extends beyond its in-flight menu. At the La Première lounge in Paris-Charles de Gaulle, legendary chef Alain Ducasse and his team serve world-class dishes, including the signature truffle pasta and Armagnac baba. Additional lounges feature the “Burgal,” a vegetarian, sustainably sourced alternative to a traditional burger created by Ducasse Paris.
These gourmet experiences align with Air France’s commitment to sustainability, sourcing ingredients locally and from sustainable fisheries.