High Standards at High Altitudes: Emirates Flight Catering FSSC 22000 Certified in Airline Catering
Based in Dubai, Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) is one of the world’s largest catering operations, producing an average of 250,000 meals daily. In 2021, EKFC received certification under the FSSC 22000 Scheme for Food Safety Management Systems as one of the first global airline caterers.
The FSSC licensed Certification Body LRQA audited Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC). Foundation FSSC spoke with EKFC’s Chief Executive Officer, Shahreyar Nawabi and Rushu Das, Vice President of Governance, Risk, Compliance & Sustainability, to review their certification journey and growth of their Food Safety Management System.
Why did Emirates Flight Catering choose FSSC 22000 certification?
As one of the largest in-flight caterers in the world, we decided to apply for FSSC 22000 certification because we are passionate about building a strong and resilient Food Safety Management System that will allow us to enhance customer trust, gain global food safety recognition, ensure regulatory compliance, and realize operational efficiencies.
Achieving FSSC 22000 certification is a tremendous milestone for Emirates Flight Catering, showing just how committed we are to excellence in food safety. As one of the world’s largest catering operations, we take immense pride in setting benchmarks that inspire trust, ensure compliance, and deliver quality to every customer we serve. This accomplishment is aligned with our dedication to operating at the highest global standards, every single day.Shahreyar Nawabi, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Flight Catering
Hereby, five certification benefits influenced EKFC’s decision to choose FSSC 22000:
1. Global Acceptance and Market Access: Certification to FSSC 22000, a GFSI-recognized Scheme, supports EKFC as an industry leader meeting the highest international food safety standards.
2. A Robust Food Safety Management System: FSSC 22000 provides EKFC with a comprehensive, risk-based, and continuously improving framework to ensure inherently safe processes.
3. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Preparedness: Certification demonstrates EKFC’s strong commitment to food safety, protecting its brand and giving it a competitive edge.
4. Enhanced Customer Confidence and Reputation: FSSC 22000 assists in EKFC meeting diverse regulatory and customer requirements while maintaining audit readiness.
5. Operational Benefits and Efficiency: The certification streamlines processes, boosts employee engagement, and integrates seamlessly with other ISO-aligned management systems.
What challenges did you face during the certification process?
During the certification process, several challenges emerged. One significant difficulty was managing the complexity and volume of documentation, particularly in developing tools for food fraud and defence, and conducting technical gap assessments for additional requirements. Project management added to the challenge, with EKFC’s internal technical team handling all aspects of the FSSC 22000 gap assessment, implementation, internal audits, and documentation without external consultants. Completing the Stage 1 audit without major issues, given the scope of work, was a considerable achievement that validated our approach to certification.
Exceeding established food safety standards and anticipating customer expectations is what true leadership in airline catering looks like. Emirates Flight Catering delivers on both. With FSSC 22000 certification, food safety is woven into every one of the 250,000 meals they produce daily, earning lasting trust from partners and passengers alike.Necat Kirkil, FSSC Representative for Turkiye and the Middle East
Training also proved demanding, as a large and diverse workforce had to be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement FSSC clauses effectively. Lastly, while we elevated our own Food Safety Management System above industry standards, ensuring supplier compliance, especially for ready-to-eat products, proved difficult, given the importance of ingredient integrity in meeting FSSC 22000 requirements.
What lessons did you learn during the certification process?
Achieving FSSC 22000 certification has deepened our understanding that food safety is a continuous journey rather than a one-time milestone. While developing policies and procedures can be relatively straightforward, the true challenge – and key to success – lies in consistently maintaining compliance within a dynamic production environment. Through this process, we recognized the importance of strengthening our food safety culture as a foundation for ongoing improvement. As a result, we are placing increased emphasis on the following focus areas:
- Continuous Education: Ongoing training for frontline staff is essential to reinforce their understanding of FSSC 22000 food safety requirements. Their awareness and engagement are critical to ensuring the safety and integrity of every ingredient used in our meal preparation.
- Continuous Monitoring: Sustaining FSSC 22000 certification demands vigilance. This includes systematically monitoring management processes, product safety, internal audits, and maintaining strict control over all operational procedures.
- Auditor Competency: Internal audits are critical in identifying nonconformities and ensuring comprehensive compliance. Strengthening the skills and consistency of our internal auditors is, therefore, crucial to maintaining the integrity of our Food Safety Management System.
At Emirates Flight Catering, we believe in building a strong food safety and quality culture. The journey to FSSC 22000 has reinforced that we are on the right track. This certification demonstrates that we have taken a proactive approach to risk management and operational integrity and promise to improve continuously. It highlights our team’s expertise and unwavering commitment to meeting the most stringent global standards. We are extremely proud to be leading the way.Rushu Das, Vice President – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Sustainability, Emirates Flight Catering
How does certification benefit your organization?
Achieving FSSC 22000 certification has given EKFC significant advantages in solidifying our position as a leader in in-flight catering. Certification benefits include:
- Enhanced Food Safety Management System: As one of the world’s largest in-flight caterers, we’re proud to be among the first to secure FSSC 22000 certification. This demonstrates EKFC’s commitment to setting a competitive benchmark for our food safety system.
- Reduced Food Safety Risks: The stringent requirements of FSSC 22000, which include specific focuses on food fraud, food defense, allergen management, and other sector-specific mandates alongside detailed risk assessments, have substantially mitigated our food safety risks.
- Increased Customer Confidence and Trust: Our certification to FSSC 22000, a GFSI-recognized Scheme, has significantly boosted our credibility, trust, and acceptance among our international airline and non-airline customers.
- Streamlined Regulatory Compliance: The FSSC certification has enabled EKFC to meet and exceed local regulatory requirements and the international food safety regulations of our diverse airline and non-airline clientele.
We also greatly benefited from the exceptional competence and experience of the LRQA auditors, drawn from their extensive backgrounds, which proved instrumental for our certification success.
About Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC)
With a commitment to excellence and innovation, the company delivers world-class catering services, including airline, event, and VIP catering, alongside ancillary services such as laundry, food production, and airport lounge food and beverage operations.
In 2007, EKFC launched a state-of-the-art catering complex serving Emirates flights. Spanning over 56,000m², it remains the largest facility of its kind in the world. In November 2018, the company expanded with a dedicated wing for producing Emirates First Class and Business Class meals.
EKFC is 90% owned by Emirates, with the remaining shares held by Dubai Airports Corporation. In addition to Emirates, the company provides catering solutions to multiple international airlines operating at Dubai International Airport.
As a multicultural organisation, EKFC employs over 12,000 people from over 90 countries, promoting a diverse and dynamic workplace. Its commitment to quality, sustainability, and operational excellence continues to set industry benchmarks, ensuring it remains at the forefront of aviation catering and hospitality services.
Learn more about EKFC at www.emiratesflightcatering.com
