Qatar Airways Unveils New Australian-Inspired Luxury Dining Menu for First and Business Class Flights in 2027

Qatar Airways has announced a new Australian-inspired inflight dining menu developed with acclaimed chef Ross Lusted, bringing dishes featuring tiger prawns, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and caramel-roasted apple to First Class and Business Class passengers departing Australia between February and July 2027. Unveiled at a Sydney event in October 2026, the collaboration marks the second consecutive year that the Doha-based airline has worked with the Australian restaurateur. The announcement places Australian culinary influences at the centre of a premium onboard dining programme and gives eligible international travellers another reason to examine the food experience offered on their flights.

What Has Qatar Airways Announced About Its New Australian Dining Menu?

Qatar Airways has introduced plans for a specially developed premium cabin menu featuring dishes created in collaboration with Australian chef Ross Lusted. The airline presented the forthcoming selection at an event in Sydney on 8 October 2026, ahead of its scheduled introduction in February 2027.

The menu will be offered to First Class and Business Class passengers on flights departing Australia during the announced February-to-July period.

Rather than introducing an entirely new cabin product, Qatar Airways is refreshing part of its onboard hospitality offering. The collaboration focuses on the food served during the journey, drawing on Australian ingredients and Lusted’s approach to contemporary restaurant cooking.

The announcement is particularly relevant to passengers travelling internationally from Australia who place importance on dining quality when selecting premium airline services.

It also continues an existing culinary relationship. Lusted first partnered with Qatar Airways in 2025, making the 2027 menu a further stage in the airline’s work with the chef.

Who Is Ross Lusted, the Australian Chef Behind the New Qatar Airways Menu?

Ross Lusted is an established Australian chef and restaurateur associated with two prominent dining establishments: Woodcut in Sydney and Marmelo in Melbourne.

His involvement connects Qatar Airways with Australia’s contemporary restaurant industry, where local produce, carefully developed flavours and distinctive preparation techniques play an important role in the dining experience.

Lusted entered his first airline collaboration with Qatar Airways in 2025. The partnership has since continued into a second year, with the chef contributing to the development of the newly announced menu.

His work on the 2027 selection centres on presenting Australian culinary influences to international passengers.

The collaboration also illustrates the different demands of restaurant and airline catering. Restaurant dishes are prepared and served in a controlled kitchen environment, while onboard meals must be designed for aircraft catering and service conditions.

For a chef developing airline food, the challenge extends beyond choosing attractive ingredients. The finished dishes must be suitable for the operating environment while retaining the character of the original culinary concept.

The specific production arrangements for Lusted’s new menu have not been detailed in the supplied announcement.

What Dishes Will Feature on the Qatar Airways New Menu in 2027?

The announced selection brings together seafood, slow-cooked meat and dessert, with dishes designed to reflect Australian produce and the chef’s culinary style.

Announced menu highlights:-

Australian Seafood Takes a Prominent Place

One of the most detailed dishes revealed is the tiger prawn preparation, which combines harissa oil, pickled carrot, spice crunch and mint.

The combination brings together seafood with contrasting flavours and textures. Harissa introduces a spiced element, while pickled carrot contributes acidity. The spice crunch provides texture, and mint adds a fresh herbal note.

The dish reflects an approach to cooking that combines different culinary influences rather than limiting the menu to traditional Australian recipes.

It also demonstrates how the new offering seeks to distinguish itself through ingredient combinations and presentation.

Slow-Cooked Lamb Adds a Richer Main Course

Slow-cooked lamb shoulder is another announced highlight.

Lamb has a longstanding place in Australian food culture, making it a relevant ingredient for a menu designed to represent the country’s culinary identity.

Slow cooking is commonly used to produce tender meat with developed flavours, although the airline has not provided the complete recipe, accompanying ingredients or final presentation details for this dish.

Its inclusion offers a contrasting option to the seafood selection and broadens the range of dishes described in the announcement.

Caramel-Roasted Apple Completes the Selection

Caramel-roasted apple features among the desserts.

The dish introduces a fruit-based sweet option to the menu and complements the savoury selections.

The exact accompaniments, preparation method and serving format have not been disclosed in the available material.

Together, the three announced dishes provide an initial picture of the menu’s direction, although they should not be interpreted as the complete selection that will be served during the six-month programme.

How Will the New Qatar Airways Menu Differ Between Business Class and First Class?

The 2027 dining programme includes different dishes for the airline’s two premium cabins. More detailed information released alongside the Sydney showcase identifies specific starters, main courses and desserts for each class.

Business Class: Australian Ingredients and Contemporary Comfort Food

The Business Class selection includes Woodcut white-cut chicken served with macadamia nut dressing, corn and shiitake mushrooms.

This starter combines a relatively delicate chicken preparation with the richness of macadamia nuts and the savoury character of mushrooms.

For the main course, passengers can expect Woodcut slow-cooked lamb shoulder accompanied by softened lentils, young spinach and puffed quinoa.

The dish brings together tender meat, legumes, vegetables and contrasting textures. Its composition reflects the chef’s emphasis on substantial flavours without relying exclusively on heavy accompaniments.

Dessert includes caramel-roasted apple served with pastry crust, vanilla cream and verbena.

These combinations offer a clearer picture of the Australian-inspired dining experience being prepared for Business Class passengers.

First Class: Seafood Takes Centre Stage

First Class passengers will have a different selection of dishes, including Woodcut tiger prawns served with harissa oil, pickled carrot, spice crunch and mint leaves.

Another announced preparation features roasted fish fillet accompanied by seafood orzo broth, young fennel, green olive and saffron oil.

The combination places seafood at the centre of the First Class offering, supported by aromatic ingredients and carefully balanced accompaniments.

These dishes also demonstrate how Lusted is combining Australian produce with broader international culinary influences.

Although the menu has been previewed, passengers should check the selection available on their particular flight because individual meal choices may vary according to operational arrangements.

When Will Qatar Airways Introduce Its Australian-Inspired Menu?

The new Ross Lusted menu is scheduled to operate from February until July 2027.

The announcement applies to First Class and Business Class passengers travelling on Qatar Airways flights departing Australia.

The timing provides a defined six-month period for the refreshed selection, rather than announcing a permanent change to every inflight menu across the airline’s international network.

It is important to distinguish the new 2027 programme from the existing Ross Lusted collaboration. Qatar Airways already promotes Australian-inspired dishes developed with the chef, including earlier selections such as Fraser Island spanner crab cakes, lamb osso bucco-style dishes and Black Angus tenderloin.

The 2027 announcement therefore represents a refreshed menu within an established partnership, not the first appearance of Australian chef-designed meals on the airline.

Qatar Airways has not confirmed that the new selection will be available on every route worldwide or in every cabin.

Why This Matters

The partnership highlights the increasing importance of food and beverage experiences in premium international aviation.

For travellers paying for First Class or Business Class, the onboard experience extends beyond seat comfort, baggage allowances and airport lounges. Dining is another factor that can influence how passengers assess the overall quality of their journey.

Qatar Airways is using an established Australian restaurateur to develop dishes that reflect the departure market.

This creates a connection between the destination’s food culture and the international journey, particularly for Australians travelling abroad and overseas visitors returning home.

The collaboration also gives Australian produce and contemporary cooking greater exposure through international aviation.

From an industry perspective, the announcement demonstrates how airlines can differentiate premium services through named culinary partnerships rather than relying solely on cabin hardware.

The impact should not be overstated, however. The announcement does not establish that fares will change, that passenger demand will increase or that the menu will become a permanent feature.

Its immediate significance lies in the confirmed introduction of new dishes for eligible premium passengers during the announced 2027 period.

What Other Premium Experiences Is Qatar Airways Introducing?

The Australian dining announcement forms part of a wider presentation of onboard services, including new beverages, connectivity and premium amenities.

At the Sydney showcase, Qatar Airways also highlighted a cocktail and mocktail collection developed by Italian mixologist Lorenzo Antinori, associated with Bar Leone in Hong Kong.

The drinks programme includes creations named Rising To The Sky, Tokyo 75 and Golden Delilah.

According to the airline’s October announcement, the collection is available on Qatar Airways flights departing Australia and New Zealand travelling to or through Doha, with additional cabin-specific creations and selections offered in the A380 onboard lounge.

Unlike the new food menu scheduled for February 2027, the drinks collection was described as already available at the time of the announcement.

The airline also highlighted its Starlink inflight internet service and luxury Diptyque amenity kits as elements of its wider premium hospitality offering.

These services are distinct from the Ross Lusted menu, and their availability should not be assumed to be identical across every aircraft or route.

What Travellers Should Know

Passengers considering Qatar Airways flights from Australia in 2027 should distinguish between the announced dining programme and the specific services included with their booking.

The new menu has a defined availability period and cabin eligibility, but individual dish availability may depend on the flight.

Before Booking

• Travel dates: The refreshed menu is scheduled from February to July 2027.
• Eligible cabins: First Class and Business Class.
• Departure market: Australia.
• Dining selection: Announced dishes include tiger prawns, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, white-cut chicken, roasted fish and caramel-roasted apple.
• Specific meal availability: Confirm the onboard selection for the intended flight where possible.
• Dietary requirements: Travellers requiring special meals should follow the airline’s published meal-request procedures.
• Connecting flights: Do not assume the Australian menu will be served on a subsequent flight departing Doha.
• Pricing: No separate menu surcharge or new fare structure was identified in the announcement.

Travellers should also check the aircraft and cabin configuration before booking, particularly when comparing premium products across different flights.

The culinary collaboration adds to the onboard experience but does not replace the need to review ticket conditions, connection times, baggage allowances and other travel requirements.

How Does the Collaboration Reflect Australia’s Growing Role in Premium Airline Dining?

The partnership places Australian restaurant expertise within an international airline environment.

Lusted’s involvement is particularly relevant because the menu has been designed around ingredients and flavours associated with Australian cooking, while incorporating techniques and influences from other cuisines.

The result is not presented as a collection of exclusively traditional national dishes. Instead, it reflects the diverse culinary identity of contemporary Australia.

The collaboration also follows a wider pattern of airlines working with recognised chefs to strengthen their premium hospitality credentials.

Qatar Airways has separately collaborated with Australian chef Curtis Stone on a Business Class menu for its Los Angeles–Doha route, illustrating that its guest-chef strategy extends beyond the Australian departure market.

For the airline, these partnerships provide a way to develop distinctive dining experiences for particular markets.

For travellers, the practical value depends on the quality, availability and consistency of the meals actually served onboard.

The February 2027 introduction will provide the next opportunity for passengers to experience Lusted’s refreshed Australian-inspired selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the new Qatar Airways Australian menu launch?

The refreshed menu developed with Ross Lusted is scheduled to be available from February until July 2027 on eligible flights departing Australia.

Who created the new Qatar Airways menu?

Australian chef Ross Lusted, owner of Woodcut in Sydney and Marmelo in Melbourne, developed the menu in collaboration with Qatar Airways. His relationship with the airline began in 2025.

Which passengers can enjoy the new dishes?

The announced menu is intended for Qatar Airways First Class and Business Class passengers on flights departing Australia. It has not been announced as an Economy Class offering.

What food will Qatar Airways serve on the new menu?

The announced selection includes tiger prawns with harissa oil, slow-cooked lamb shoulder with lentils, white-cut chicken with macadamia nut dressing, roasted fish with seafood orzo broth and caramel-roasted apple.

Will the Australian menu be available on flights departing Doha?

The February-to-July 2027 programme has been announced for flights departing Australia. Availability on flights departing Doha or other international locations has not been confirmed as part of this announcement.

Qatar Airways Prepares to Bring a Fresh Taste of Australia to International Travel in 2027

Qatar Airways’ forthcoming menu represents a continuation of its partnership with Ross Lusted and a further investment in premium inflight hospitality. With Australian seafood, slow-cooked lamb, carefully prepared desserts and distinctive flavour combinations, the airline is bringing elements of Australia’s restaurant culture into its First Class and Business Class dining experience.

For eligible passengers departing Australia between February and July 2027, the change promises a different selection of meals during their international journey. The broader significance lies in how airlines are using culinary collaborations to distinguish premium travel, while the real measure of success will be the dining experience passengers receive once the new menu enters service.