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Catering Assistant

Overview

Catering assistants prepare and deliver in-flight meals to aircraft while handling the logistics for catering services.

Description

  • Conduct inspections to verify that flight kitchens meet safety and hygiene standards.
  • Load food onto aircraft following specific cabin loading plans.
  • Utilise flight catering information systems to collect detailed food order requirements.
  • Operate designated vehicles for transporting food to and from aircraft safely.
  • Assemble meal trays and portion meals accurately, examining presentation and dietary requirements carefully.

Entry requirements

  • You'll need at least a NITEC or professional certificate in Catering, Hospitality, or related field with basic food hygiene knowledge.

Salary

$2,300 – 3,500

/mo

Salary ranges are estimated based on public information found on Singaporean job portals, including MyCareersFuture, MySkillsFuture. Updated as of 2026.

Trivia

Catering assistants play an important role ensuring airplane food is safe to eat. Did you know that once a flight is delayed beyond six hours, they must discard and replace all the food?

What to expect

You will be working in different temperature conditions inside and outside the kitchen. Familiarity with kitchen equipment and food transport vehicles are essential.

Soft
skills

Teamwork

Able to work well with colleagues to deliver services on schedule.

Communication

Able to share information clearly with colleagues and flight crews during meal delivery.

Problem-Solving

Ability to identify and solve issues quickly.

Airfield Driving Permit

Certified to drive on airside areas to deliver catering to aircraft.

Driving Qualifications

Possess a Class 3 driving license to drive light vehicles, including catering vans.

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Trained in food safety practices essential for airline meal preparation.

Hard
skills

Frequently asked questions

Besides preparing flight meals, they also operate vehicles to move and transport these meals around, which is why they need both a Class 3 licence and Airfield Driving Permit.

They work in shifts to accommodate different flight arrivals and departures, which means working odd hours or late into the night is normal.

They use thermometers to test the temperature of in-flight meals to ensure food safety standards are met.

Harmful bacteria are destroyed only after food reaches specific temperatures, which is important as flight meals remain in storage throughout the journey.

They estimate based on the total number of people who booked tickets and the typical no-show rate for that route.