1. White beaches, azure seas: Cebu, Philippines
Cebu, which includes Cebu City, the oldest city in the Philippines, is a breathtaking island with gorgeous nature.
The menu card for Cebu, one of our newest flight destinations, captures the flawless nature and tropical vibe of the island. The island was brought to the attention of Europeans by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who landed there in 1521. In addition to powdery white sand beaches and azure waters, Cebu offers visitors nature sports and a lively atmosphere.
2. Old and new together: Luanda, Angola
Opened at the end of 2021, Luanda is one of our newest routes. Set along the Atlantic Ocean, this bustling city in the southern African nation of Angola hosts one of the most important commercial ports in its region. Formerly colonized by Portugal, the city features both modern and colonial architecture in its old town, Baixa de Luanda (lower Luanda) and its newer area, Cidade Alta (upper part). We’ve highlighted this mix on the menu card, which depicts the Luanda city skyline complemented by an ethnic African font.
3. Western feast: Dallas, United States
Dallas, the third largest city in the state of Texas and the ninth largest city in the United States, is a key IT and financial center due to its location. Of course, Dallas has also served as a location for swashbuckling western films. When our Dallas flights started in the fall of 2021, we were inspired by the iconic swinging saloon doors that seem to be present in every cinematic depiction of the American west. While flying to Dallas, accompany your in-flight meal along with a western movie selection from the in-flight entertainment system!
4. Colors of Africa: Port Harcourt, Nigeria
We started flying to Port Harcourt, the capital of Nigeria’s Rivers state, at the beginning of 2020. Port Harcourt, built on the Niger delta, stretches along the banks of the Bonny River. While renowned for its commerce and nightlife, this bustling city is also a leading hub for modern and traditional arts and culture. For this reason, we represent Port Harcourt with drawings of African women dressed in traditional ethnic patterns.
5. Yucatan’s favorite: Cancun, Mexico
We started flying to the Yucatan Peninsula in August 2019. Set between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula is known for its sunshine, so we deployed the sombrero in our menu card design. This attractive and functional headwear provides excellent protection from the exuberant Mexican heat. Speaking of warmth, Cancun, in the state of Quintana Roo, lies on the Caribbean Sea and is an enormously popular destination – not just for its white sand beaches, turquoise seas and coral reefs, but also for the Mayan ruins near the city.
6. Like a flower: Bali, Indonesia
Bali, the quintessential honeymoon destination, is more than just a beautiful island with Instagram-friendly villas and infinity pools. Part of the vast Indonesian archipelago, Bali features a unique culture along with volcanic mountains, lush highlands, stunning beaches, and terraced rice fields famous for their innovative irrigation systems.
Our fan-shaped menu cards are inspired by Bali’s fragrant plumeria flower, also called frangipani. This lovely blossom flourishes in tropical climates and Bali, very close to the Equator, has year-round temperatures ranging between 20 and 35 degrees. Our fan may prove to be useful! ☺
7. Traveling with pangolins: Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo
Four species of these cute, scaly-skinned mammals are found on the African continent; all are protected under national and international laws. When we began flying to Pointe-Noire, the second largest city in the Republic of Congo, we decided to highlight these gentle animals.
Set on the Atlantic Ocean, the port city of Pointe-Noire is one of the twelve administrative regions that make up the Republic of Congo. A buzzing transport and commerce hub, Pointe-Noire has a population of about 820,000 people. Its natural beauties include a long coastline and the Conkouati-Douli National Park, just north of the city, which is a prominent wildlife habitat.
8. An open-air museum: Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region in the northeast of France, is the seventh most populous city in France with a population of approximately 300,000 people. Located in the border region, Strasbourg is separated from Germany by the Rhine River. This strategically important city was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 and features numerous Renaissance- and Medieval-style structures. In 2019, when we started flying to Strasbourg, our menu card design was inspired by the city’s classic timber-framed houses.
9. A herringbone port city: Banjul, Gambia
It is said that the Atlantic Ocean’s most delicious fish are caught around Banjul. The capital of Gambia, Banjul is a port city that stretches along the mouth of the Gambia River. For these reasons, we represented the city with a colorful fish woven in traditional patterns. However, the word “Banjul” actually means “rope”, representing the veteran workers who collect various kinds of yarn for rope production.
10. The rhythm of the balalaika: Krasnodar, Russia
Back in 2018, our newly opened route was Krasnodar. Near the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, this city in southern Russia has a temperate climate compared to other parts of the country. Krasnodar is a remarkable city in terms of economy and culture: the city was first named “Ekaterinodar” – the gift of Catherine – and renamed by Lenin after the October Revolution to “the red gift”. Krasnodar reminds us of the balalaika, a musical instrument that has held an important role in Russian culture throughout various rulers. Thus, from July 18, 2017, when our Krasnodar route was opened, we determined the obvious theme for this route’s menu card: the Balalaika.
