Veganuary kicks off in 2023 with a 154% spike in vegan meal requests on Emirates flights.

As more people participate in Veganuary, the Emirates airline has seen a surge in demand for its plant-based options. For many people, a new year means a revamped diet, and this is especially true for those who have signed up for Veganuary this year. According to Veganuary, the month-long initiative to try a plant-based diet in January saw a record-breaking sign-up rate in 2023, with one person taking up the challenge every 2.4 seconds. The number of plant-based meals requested on Emirates flights has also increased significantly.

Emirates passengers are embracing plant-based cuisine, with the airline reporting a 154% increase in vegan meal requests on flights last year. In the previous year, more than 280,000 plant-based meals were consumed on the airline's flights, including more than 195,000 vegan desserts. Emirates offers a variety of vegan dishes with over 180 plant-based recipes on rotation. Spinach and avocado mousseline with marinated tofu, multicolored quinoa with caramelized pear and celeriac puree, and lovage pesto are among them.

For more than two decades, the airline has provided vegan options. Initially, its vegan meals were only available on specific routes such as Addis Abeba, where those practicing the Ethiopian Orthodox faith require animal-free meals at certain times of the year, or across the Indian subcontinent, where several faiths encourage a plant-based diet. However, vegan dishes have been rapidly gaining popularity on other routes, including those to the United States, Australia, and some European and United Kingdom destinations, for several years. Emirates reports a recent increase in vegan meal uptake in new destinations such as Beirut, Cairo, and Taiwan. The airline introduced a new gourmet vegan menu for premium passengers last year. Chef-curated dishes such as jackfruit biryani, pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, and chocolate truffle cake are included.