Qatar Airways Partners with Acclaimed Australian Chef, Ross Lusted, for Exclusive Premium Menu to Elevate Inflight Dining Experience
6 June 2025
Sydney, Australia – Qatar Airways has unveiled its exclusive new in-flight dining experience curated by Ross Lusted, award-winning Australian chef and owner of Woodcut, Sydney and Marmelo, Melbourne. Set to debut on 12 June 2025, the menu is available on First and Business Class onboard Qatar Airways and its valued partner, Virgin Australia’s, flights departing from Australia to Doha.
*Available from 12 June, the new menu by Chef Ross Lusted brings a curated selection of appetisers, mains, and desserts to First and Business Class travellers from Australia
First and Business Class passengers will get to enjoy the new exclusive menu that celebrates the best of Australian produce. The new menu reflects Chef Ross’s globally-inspired approach to food, and is underpinned by modern inflight fine-dining through Qatar Airways’ commitment to excellence. Passengers can expect a curated selection of signature dishes, ranging from delicately prepared seafood to numerous meat options, capturing the essence of Chef Ross’s culinary philosophy – clean, bold flavours driven by seasonality and sustainability.
Xia Cai, Qatar Airways’ Senior Vice President for Product Development and Design said: “As the only airline in the world to have won the prestigious Skytrax World’s Best Business Class 11 times, Qatar Airways’ mission is to continuously elevate our inflight experience through our onboard product offerings. We understand onboard dining plays a key role in defining the travel experience in the premium segment.”
“Thus, we are thrilled to collaborate with Chef Ross Lusted, whose passion and talent are reflected in every detail of this menu. We are proud to offer our Australian passengers a menu that celebrates Australian produce and culinary creativity, while maintaining the high standards Qatar Airways is known for as we provide world-class cuisine and thoughtful service onboard.”
Chef Ross Lusted, said: “It’s not every day that you get to partner with the world’s best airline to reimagine what fine-dining can look and feel like in the sky, and to do it in a way that reflects the highest standards no less. Collaborating with Qatar Airways has given me the opportunity to bring my Australian culinary ethos to a global audience and showcase our local produce we’re so proud of.”
“I wanted the menu to reflect the best of what Australia has to offer. Every dish is curated with care, drawing on my experience in high-end restaurants while adapting to the unique challenges of inflight dining. It’s an exciting challenge to translate fine dining to the inflight environment, and I’m proud to offer passengers something that feels both familiar and premium.”
With the new menu going live on 12 June 2025 for all Australian routes to Doha, the menu will be refreshed every three months with Chef Ross’ curation for a total of four menu cycles. Ingredients like meats and produce featured in the menu are all locally-sourced through Australian suppliers in accordance with sustainable practices and seasonality to highlight the best of what Australia offers. This collaboration further enhances Qatar Airways award-winning in-flight offerings and marks a new chapter in its culinary journey, while continuing to spotlight its industry-changing partnership with Virgin Australia.
Qatar Airways investment in premium onboard experience and its commitment to working with top culinary talents around the world have earned the airline a reputation as a leader in aviation. Qatar Airways achieved the ‘World’s Best Business Class’ for the eleventh time in 2024, in addition to being awarded ‘World’s Best Airline’ for a record-breaking eighth time in 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, taking home, ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, via one seamless connection through Hamad International Airport, the ‘World’s Best Airport’, as voted by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Qatar Airways x Chef Ross Lusted, Woodcut Premium Menu:
Australia – Doha Menu
First Class Menu
Appetizer
-
Fraser Island Spanner Crab Cakes
warragal greens, smoked mayonnaise and parsley salad
Main Course
-
Black Angus Beef Tenderloin
green beans, tarragon butter, bread and butter pickles
Dessert
-
Textures of Chocolate
crisp rice and dark chocolate sauce
Business Class Menu
Appetizer
-
Seared Cured Fish Plate
soy and sesame oil dressing, cucumber and picked young ginger
Main Course
-
Lamb Osso Buco Style
Heirloom carrots, parsley and lemon
Dessert
-
Basque Cheesecake
Softened dry fruits, cinnamon, vanilla and walnuts
About Qatar Airways
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for the unprecedented eighth time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways has been the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was also recently voted the ‘World’s Best Airline Website’ by World Travel Tech Awards in 2024.
Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Qatar Airways was the first airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.
About Woodcut
Helmed by Australian culinary maverick, Chef Ross Lusted, Woodcut, Sydney is known for celebrating exceptional Australian produce and cooking with wood, charcoal and steam. Woodcut’s earthy and sensory cooking methods impart a tangible element of flavour and authenticity to the cooking process. The restaurant has achieved numerous awards including a coveted Chef’s Hat by the Good Food Guide, Best Restaurant Design by the Eat Drink Design Awards, and included in The Weekend Australian’s Hot 20 List for Australia.
About Marmelo
Chef Ross Lusted owns acclaimed Melbourne fine-diner Marmelo, an elegant dining room embracing Australian produce and creativity to interpret the tradition of Portuguese coastal dining and it’s influences along the spice route. Marmelo opened to glowing reviews, received a Chefs Hat awarded by the Good Food Guide, included in the AFR top 50 restaurants in Australia 2025, featured in The Australian Hot 50 List 2025 celebrating the best restaurants in Australia and has been continuously celebrated on Broadsheet’s weekly Hot Lists since opening.
