The galley is the aircraft's kitchen, a self-contained compartment where flight attendants store, prepare, and serve food and beverages safely and efficiently while the aircraft is aloft.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
What does galley mean in an airplane?
A galley is the compartment of an aircraft is a kitchen where food and beverages are prepared and stored for in-flight service. Galleys on commercial airlines include facilities to serve and store food and beverages, and they contain anything else flight attendants may need during the flight.
In an airplane, the galley is the compartment where food and beverages are prepared and served to passengers. It acts as the aircraft's kitchen, housing equipment like food ovens, coffee machines, and large trolleys filled with food and drinks. Flight attendants manage the operation of the galley, assuring that meals are delivered efficiently and safely during the flight. In commercial aircraft, the galley also provides space for emergency equipment and general storage, and its size and equipment are scaled to the needs of the airline, with standards like ATLAS and KSSU defining the shape of trays and trolleys used for loading food.
Where is the galley located on a plane?
Galleys are located in the main deck of airliners. For smaller single-aisle airplanes the main galley is usually located on the rear part of the fuselage, and an auxiliary smaller galley is located on the forward part close to the cockpit. On these aircraft the galley is located immediately aft of the left and right-hand rear service doors, so the rear galley occupies the back of the passenger cabin. The forward galley is located at the No. 1 passenger door, immediately forward of the left-hand forward passenger door. For two-aisle airplanes the galley is situated on the main deck, either forward or aft, according to airline choice.
