Airline Food

American Airlines pairs up with James Beard for upper crust meals

Mmm, spinach ricotta rotolo pasta.

Photo courtesy of AA

Fort Worth-based American Airlines has forged a partnership with the James Beard Foundation to add chef-designed items for its most rarefied levels of travel.

The new items will be served on Flagship First and Flagship Business flights from the United States to Europe and South America, and just a few transcontinental flights: between JFK International Airport and either Los Angeles or San Francisco.

They'll also be available in Flagship Lounges, AA's premium lounge located at five U.S. airports, in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, L.A., Miami, and JFK/New York.

Travelers booking those flights can pre-order on aa.com starting 30 days before or up to 24 hours before departure.

The dishes include an appetizer, pasta entrée, and dessert in Flagship First Dining; a salad in the Flagship Lounge; and a pasta entrée onboard.

A release says that the menus will be designed by James Beard Foundation's "portfolio of established and up-and-coming chefs." IE, chefs who've won James Beard awards.

The benefit for American customers is that they'll enjoy what the release calls a world-class culinary experience, while introducing the Beard's roster, says Janelle Anderson, AA's VP of marketing.

"A premier culinary partner like the James Beard Foundation provides unique and delicious offerings for our customers," Anderson says. "We're honored to work with their roster of award-winning chefs who embody diversity, modernism and sustainable practices in the culinary world today."

The first chef at bat is Sarah Grueneberg, a Top Chef alum who works at Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio.

Dishes at Flagship First Dining include:

Grilled Roman-style Artichokes: black truffle, fontina fonduta, fresh lemon
Mushroom Bolognese: fusilli pasta, cremini and porcini mushrooms, peas, carrots, Parmigiano Reggiano
Dark Chocolate Budino: candied citrus, mandarin olive oil, feuilletine chocolate crunch, fresh whipped cream

Dishes at the Flagship Lounge include:

Tuscan Kale Salad: beets, apples, goat cheese, spiced sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seed medley, tahini dressing
Flagship First and Flagship Business from US to Europe, US to South America and transcontinental flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Artichoke Ravioli: blistered cherry tomato sauce, green olive pistachio pesto
Spinach and Ricotta Rotolo Pasta: pomodoro sauce, basil pesto, pine nuts

The partnership doesn't stop at these dishes. American will also be involved in the Foundation's programs, including Taste America, a culinary pop-up series featuring unforgettable dining experiences in 20 cities across the country; the James Beard Awards annual gala in Chicago; and events at the James Beard House in New York City.

James Beard was beset by a financial scandal in 2004 when its then-president was imprisoned after having stolen more than $1 million, and its scholarship donations were found to be a fraction of the millions of dollars it took in.

The foundation holds hundreds of dinners and lunches at its headquarters at James Beard House in Greenwich Village, most of which rely on chefs donating their time and money.

The foundation also hands out awards to chefs around the country; ethical standards of behavior were added to the voting process in 2018.

Airport News

DFW Airport welcomes new Cathy Pacific roundtrip flights to Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific plane in the sky, coming to DFW soon.

An airline carrier is making its debut at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport: Cathay Pacific Airways, based in Hong Kong, is expanding its North America network with the launch of non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for the very first time.

According to a release, it's part of a bigger expansion by Cathay Pacific, which is increasing its number of flights to the US and Canada by nearly 25 percent. It will add four direct flights to Dallas per week, and increase flights to cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Vancouver.

The new service will begin on April 24, 2025

Dallas marks Cathay Pacific’s sixth passenger destination in the U.S. and eighth in North America, bolstering the connectivity of its home hub, Hong Kong. The new service will begin on April 24, 2025.

In a release, Cathay Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau notes Cathay's "deep roots" in Hong Kong, as well as its connection to China.

"Cathay continues to build Hong Kong as a leading international aviation hub that connects people to the most exciting places in the world," Lau says. “Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports. With our Cathay Pacific codeshares as well as other flight options, customers can connect to over 190 domestic destinations in the United States, as well as 11 destinations in Central and South America via DFW, further enhancing Hong Kong’s connectivity with North America and important Belt and Road Initiative participating countries.”

Currently, Cathay Pacific operates 88 return passenger flights per week to destinations in North America, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.

The airline will operate four return flights per week between Hong Kong and DFW using its modern Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with the following flight schedule:

CX898
Hong Kong (HKG) 16:05 departure
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 17:55 arrival
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

CX897
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 23:55 departure
Hong Kong (HKG) 05:05+2
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

Cathay Pacific is also increasing frequencies on its North America passenger services in 2025. By May, the airline will be operating 108 return flights per week. Aside from the new Dallas service, this will include three return flights per day to New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles respectively, and a daily return flight to both Boston and Chicago.

Cathay Pacific also continues to increase flights on its services to Canada, with two daily return flights to Vancouver and 13 return flights per week to Toronto.

Cathay Pacific’s new passenger service to DFW will also complement Cathay Cargo’s existing freighter services to the city via Anchorage. To cater for the growing demand during the air cargo peak season, Cathay Cargo is operating five additional return freighter flights per week to North America starting this month. In total, Cathay Cargo is currently operating up to 37 return freighter flights per week to North America.

Cathay Pacific began serving the North America market with its first non-stop service to Vancouver in 1983. The airline’s long-established presence in North America demonstrates the continent’s sustained importance to its overall network.

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