GIC International Catering (GIC), a specialist in customized in-flight catering for more than 25 years, has continued to grow in what it describes as an especially difficult year for the aviation industry. On 15 November 2026, the independent company, based near Frankfurt, will open a new production facility at Munich Airport, and says it is also committed to collaborating even more closely with airlines.

“The geopolitical situation, particularly the situation in the Middle East, is posing serious challenges for air transportation this year, and also affects our business. The same is true of rising energy and fuel costs,” said Göksel Yildirim, GIC Managing Director. “Nonetheless, we have succeeded in making important, future-oriented decisions and investing strategically in growth,” he continued.

UP TO 20,000 MEALS A DAY AT THE NEW MUNICH LOCATION

The opening of the new production site at CTPark München Nord, located next to Germany’s second-largest airport, is of special significance. After receiving all required regulatory approvals and permits, the official opening will take place on 15 November 2026. Production will also begin in November with a team of 80 employees. The GIC facility in Munich covers approximately 27,000 square feet and has the capacity to produce up to 20,000 meals per day.

“The expansion in Munich is an important milestone for us,” said Yildirim. “The new, additional location creates the conditions necessary for us to continue growing and gives us greater flexibility. This allows us to cater to airlines both in Frankfurt and in Munich.”

But it does not have to stop at just these two German airports. GIC already holds a license for Düsseldorf and is closely monitoring developments at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, the nation’s capital airport.

FIRST OFFICE IN CHINA

GIC also successfully expanded into China in 2026. Its office in Beijing is working closely with the airline Air China. Since spring of this year, GIC has been responsible for catering on flights from Frankfurt to Beijing-Daxing. The company is also partnering with China Eastern Airlines, which has been serving GIC meals since June 2026. Ensuring that these airlines’ expectations for high-quality, authentic airline catering are met is one of the responsibilities of GIC’s China office.

AIR ASTANA, ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES AND LUFTHANSA CARGO CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP WITH GIC

In addition to expanding, GIC has strengthened its already existing relationships with airline clients. The contracts with Air Astana and Ethiopian Airlines were each extended for another three years. Both airlines, along with long-standing GIC client Air India, have recently received awards from Skytrax. The collaboration with Lufthansa Cargo has also grown, with GIC responsible for the à la carte menu service for flight crews on long-haul routes departing from Frankfurt.

LARGER WORKFORCE AND NEW ISO CERTIFICATIONS

With the growth of the company, GIC has been able to create new jobs. While there were 140 employees at the end of 2025, this number has since nearly doubled to 270 team members. A specially created onboarding programme ensures that all new employees receive comprehensive training, are thoroughly prepared for their assignments, and are familiarized with the company’s philosophy. This way, GIC says it ensures that the high quality of its food and customer service remains consistent.

At the same time, GIC has renewed its ISO 9001 certificate for quality management. It also received ISO 22301 certification for business continuity management for the first time. GIC continues to renew its company-owned vehicle fleet and has put seven new catering trucks from Doll and Miles into service, all equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

“For us, growth also means taking responsibility for our employees and customers,” said Yildirim. “Despite all the challenges, we see potential and promising opportunities for this year and for 2027. And yet, we are not interested in pushing for further expansion at all costs. Instead, we are ensuring that our company values and standards are maintained and that new processes are well established before we take the next steps. We are putting a large amount of our focus on our new production site in Munich as well as on the collaboration with current and new airline customers.”

Note: GIC International Catering GmbH, based in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt Airport, has been a reliable partner in airline catering for over 25 years, while also providing catering services for schools and private events. As a family-owned business, GIC combines its cuisine with tailor-made solutions, sustainability and cooperative partnerships.