Airlines

What is the new Impossible food menu on United Airlines?

United Airlines is introducing two new Impossible Foods menu.

As part of a new initiative by the airline to expand its plant-based cuisine, United Airlines is introducing two new Impossible Foods menu items on some flights and in some airport lounges.

Air India introduces new menu in domestic flights with trendy foods.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The United-exclusive Impossible™ Meatball Bowl is now offered to first-class passengers on all domestic flights longer than 800 miles in the continental U.S. as a result of a new partnership between United and Impossible Foods. The Impossible™ Sausage is offered in the Polaris® lounges in Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, and San Francisco.

The Impossible Meatball Bowl includes three Impossible Meatballs™ Made From Plants, broccolini, and couscous. A tomato sauce flavoured with herbs is drizzled on top. Impossible Meatballs are created with a special blend of Impossible Beef™ Made From Plants and Impossible Sausage and are seasoned with a savory, traditional spice mixture. Additionally, Impossible Sausage breakfast patties will be available at the buffet at the Polaris lounges at Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Newark, and San Francisco airports during the breakfast period.

Impossible Meatball Bowl, available exclusively to United Airlines customers

Pre-ordering meals on shorter flights is now available with Austrian Airlines.(Opens in a new browser tab)

Impossible Foods is on a mission to create delicious, nutritious meat made from plants with a far lower environmental impact compared to meat made from animals. Impossible products are designed to look, cook and taste like animal meat, delivering the crave-worthy benefits of meat without many of the negative qualities. Both Impossible Meatballs and Impossible Sausage are good sources of protein and other essential nutrients while containing 0 mg cholesterol and trans fat, and no animal hormones or antibiotics.

Furthermore, they require a fraction of the land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing their animal meat counterparts, according to preliminary lifecycle analyses.

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

Top 10 Best Airlines in the World by AirHelp Survey

This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

India Offers $200 Million LOC to Nigeria for Tejas Jets

Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.