In business class: Austrian Airlines brings back pilot chefs

Not only are airlines ramping up destinations and frequencies post-pandemic, service in premium classes is also approaching pre-pandemic levels. On Austrian Airlines, flying chefs used to be something special. They prepared business class food on every long haul flight and explained to passengers exactly what they were looking for.

With the onset of the epidemic, the flying chefs remained on the ground. Since then, their duties have been taken over by flight attendants. although AUA President Annette Mann It has already announced the return of flying chefs mid-2022. But now it seems to be getting concrete. A Recruitment Agency is currently advertising Flying Chef / Cook jobs. With the location of Vienna.

The bid is suitable for Austrian only

We are looking for trained chefs with “hands on haute gastronomy” experience for extended trips to Asia and North America. This fits perfectly into the airline portfolio of the Lufthansa subsidiary – and only with it.

According to the advertisement, the chefs will be employed by an Austrian company listed “with business areas such as airline catering, international event catering, restaurants/lounges and hotels” – almost certainly with caterer Do & Co, responsible for AUA’s in-flight catering.

Criticisms of Aua staff

It remains to be seen how the workforce will respond to the change. From there, there has recently been opposition to the Flying Chefs model. Among other things, unions criticized the fact that flight attendants could provide a guest with more comprehensive information—not just about aspects of cooking. Do & Co’s chefs also don’t have any safety-related training, according to Rainer Stratberger, AUA leader and chair of the board work council, in February 2022. to aeroTELEGRAPH.

According to Stratberger, the biggest problem was that outside chefs could take Austrian Airlines cabin crew jobs on long-haul routes. Especially after the pandemic with short time work, Savings package And the reduction in intercontinental service is irresponsible. Austria could counteract this criticism with the direct employment that now appears to be planned.

Details later

The Austrian is still keeping a low profile when it comes to the details of the chef’s return. You will be informed later, it is only said.