In-Flight Catering Equipment installations at King Khalid International Airport (RUH)

In-flight catering equipment is the hardware that turns a 3.5 m² galley into a restaurant for 500 people. It includes half- and full-size trolleys and standard units, convection and steam ovens, chillers, espresso systems, bar boxes, inserts, meal trays, crockery, glassware and the cutlery / linen that defines premium cabins. Buyers are airline catering departments and the catering operators (Emirates Flight Catering, Gate Gourmet, dnata, LSG, Newrest) who physically uplift the meals. All gear must be weight-optimised, ARINC-galley-compatible and certified to aviation fire standards.

A sprawling 1980s-era masterplan set in desert pink sandstone, RUH was designed by HOK when Riyadh was still a secondary capital. Four decades later, the city has outgrown it. Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 now share the load as traffic hit 37.2 million in 2024, and new carrier Riyadh Air prepares to launch before the airport itself is eclipsed by King Salman International just across town.