In-flight meal cook
きないしょくちょうりいん
Industry & Occupation
Classification
- Major : Service Occupations
- Middle : Food Preparation Occupations
- Minor : Institutional Cooks (Excluding Schools)
Summary
A profession that mass-prepares and plates meals for airline passengers in airport catering facilities, thoroughly manages hygiene, and supplies them to the aircraft within the specified time.
Description
In-flight meal cooks work in airport catering centers, mass-preparing meals for airline service, handling plating, packaging, inspection, and transport in one continuous process. They strictly conduct ingredient receiving inspections, hygiene management, and temperature control, ensuring nutritional balance and safety based on airline-specified menus. They manage delivery deadlines aligned with flight schedules and collaborate in teams, with shifts including early mornings and late nights. Mass cooking requires exceptional time management skills and high attention to detail.
Future Outlook
Demand is linked to the aviation industry, susceptible to fluctuations in passenger numbers and infection control measures, but specialization is increasing due to diversifying food needs (vegetarian, halal, etc.) and expanding HACCP implementation. Demand for maintaining high-quality and safe in-flight meals is expected to remain stable.
Personality Traits
High hygiene awareness / Physically fit / Strong sense of responsibility / Team-oriented
Work Style
Night and early morning shifts / Shift work / Standing work / Team work
Career Path
Cooking staff (Junior) → Supervisor/Chief → Factory manager → Quality control staff → Catering business planning
Required Skills
Cooking techniques / Food hygiene management / Mass cooking / Temperature control / Time management
Recommended Skills
Communication skills (English) / HACCP knowledge / Menu development / Quality control
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Adaptability | Necessary to quickly respond to changes in flight schedules and passenger numbers. |
| Attention to Detail & Accuracy | Accuracy is required to ensure food safety and quality maintenance. |
| Physical Stamina & Endurance | Involves long hours of standing work and handling heavy items. |
| Planning & Organization | Due to the need for schedule management and strict time adherence in mass cooking. |
| Stress Tolerance | Due to the high pressure of mass cooking large quantities in short time and meeting deadlines. |
| Collaboration & Teamwork | Required to collaborate with numerous cooking staff to advance operations. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Numerical & Quantitative Analysis | Basic calculations such as portion control are needed, but no advanced numerical analysis. |
Related Qualifications
- Cooking license
- Food hygiene manager
- HACCP certification
Aliases
- Airplane in-flight meal cook
- Catering staff
- In-flight meal chef
Related Jobs
- Catering staff
- Dietary cook
- Restaurant chef