Japan airport vending machine offers ANA's international dishes as sales take off
(Mainichi Japan)
SAKATA, Yamagata -- A vending machine at an airport in this northern Japan city on July 1 started offering frozen dishes served on All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA)'s international routes.
Five varieties of economy-class main dishes served on ANA's international flights are available at the vending machine on the second floor of the Shonai Airport Building. Priced at 1,080 yen (about $7.60) each, items include beef Hamburg steak, paella and a creamy penne with stewed beef and eggplant. Customers can use a microwave there to heat and eat the meals on the spot.
An 87-year-old resident of the town of Shonai, Yamagata Prefecture, bought three servings to split with friends. "We want a taste of luxury while eating at home," said a middle-aged husband and wife, as the meals sold at jet speed.
According to an official, a vending machine started offering frozen dishes modeled after in-flight meal, such as Taiwanese and Singaporean dishes, at the end of April. All 300 were sold out in one week. Demand is also expected to take off for the real in-flight meals. Customers are said to span all generations, with around 80% taking the meals home.
(Japanese original by Rika Chonan, Tsuruoka Local Bureau)
Related Articles
- Wagyu beef vending machine hits the spot in west Japan
- 2 vending machines in Japan city to offer free food, drinks during disasters
- Bear meat vending machine proves popular in north Japan city
- Kimchi vending machine on station platform near Tokyo sees hot sales
- Japan launches whale meat vending machines to promote sales
- Japan Airlines finally starts online sales of in-flight meals
