Passengers flying budget carrier, Air-India Express can order pre-booked meals on flights from Abu Dhabi starting 1st February, 2017, it has been announced. The A La Carte meals onboard can be booked 24 hours prior to departure.

An inflight breakfast will cost between INR 125 and INR 200. Lunch and dinner options are available for prices ranging from INR 175 to INR 300. Passengers can opt for vegetarian or non-vegetarian menus. An official from the airline said the pre-booked meals will not replace the existing free snacks box served  onboard Air-India Express.

“This is especially for those passengers who wish to have a hot meal in the flight. Meanwhile we will continue to serve the complimentary snacks box,” he said.

Sreedharan Thambi, a regular flyer of the budget airline said non-availability of hot meals onboard was frustrating. “That was one big disadvantage of flying Air-India Express, especially if you have kids. I will definitely be buying a nice meal next time I fly with them,” said Thambi, from Kerala.

Another expat Naveen Menon said the prices for pre-booked meals are affordable. “I just hope they do not compromise on quality. Good food definitely is a value-addition to the flying experience. Pre-booked meals are already available on all Air-India Express flights departing from India.

“The service is newly introduced on selected UAE flights to the India sector starting February,” said the official.

While pre-booked meals are available on all flights from Abu Dhabi except to Delhi, the service can be availed only on selective flights from Dubai and Sharjah.

The budget airline has daily four flights from the UAE capital catering to sectors like Kochi, Kozhikode, Trivandrum and Delhi.

In addition, there are four weekly flights to Mangalore as well. The airline has 11 daily flights from Dubai and seven from Sharjah.