Lunch On Azerbaijan Airlines

My Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.

Today, I thought we’d take a look back more than 11 years to lunch I had on Azerbaijan Airlines.

Lunch on Azerbaijan Airlines

This flight ended up occurring a day late. Long story…

After being booted off my Newark – Istanbul flight, I flew Newark – Washington – Kuwait – Istanbul and ended up in Istanbul nearly a day later. Thankfully, I was able to book a last-minute ticket on Azerbaijan Airlines, also known as AZAL, to my final destination of Baku.

The flight was operated by a 767-300 and lightly filled in economy class. Lunch was served after takeoff.

Right upfront, I was sure glad I had stopped for lunch in the lounge because this had to be one of the worst airline meals I have ever had.

It started well with a bag of hazelnuts, but quickly went downhill with a mustard chicken and rice plate that literally had only two chunks of dry chicken and dried-out rice. A side of sour cherries and green olives, a side of cheese slices (the only edible part of the meal), and a tasteless slice of cake rounded out the meal.

What a contrast to Turkish Airlines catering ex-Istanbul!

CONCLUSION

I always love flying new airlines and AZAL was just fine overall. But unless things have dramatically changed since my fight (and it does not appear so), don’t expect a great meal onboard.

You can read my full review here.

Have you flown Azerbaijan Airlines? What did you think about the food onboard?