Carney’s airplane food bill nears $1M, including $160K on one trip
Defence Department records show Prime Minister Mark Carney's in-flight catering costs are approaching $1 million, with one trip alone racking up nearly $160,000.
Author: Alex Dhaliwal
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his entourage spent nearly $160,000 on in-flight catering during a single trip, dining on chicken chasseur, Chilean sea bass and “death by chocolate,” the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealed.
“Carney spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Carney keeps promising to spend less, but if he isn’t willing to cut back on airplane food, then what will he spend less on?”
The lavish bill comes despite government promises to cut costs and while other officials spent far less on in-flight catering.
Between March 2025 and March 2026, Mark Carney billed taxpayers nearly $1 million for in-flight catering, according to Defence Department records.
Carney and his 55-person entourage spent $159,800 on in-flight catering during a week-long trip to Athens, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and the Canary Islands in November 2025—about $2,850 per passenger.
It was the second-highest bill, behind a $175,248 tab for Carney and 72 passengers travelling to China, Qatar and Switzerland.
The government has not disclosed whether any costs were reimbursed. The trip’s catering bill exceeded nine years of groceries for an average family.
Flight menus obtained by the CTF show Carney’s entourage was served multi-course gourmet meals. Breakfast options included a sundried tomato and mozzarella omelette or French toast, while mains featured beef tenderloin, chicken supreme, and slow-roasted cod. Desserts included tiramisu, cheesecake, and a chocolate parfait dubbed “death by chocolate.”
“Carney says he will spend less, and the government told Canadians it would cut down on travel costs, so how can the prime minister justify billing taxpayers six figures for airplane food?” Terrazzano said. “If other politicians and bureaucrats can travel without racking up these outrageous bills, then Carney can spend less while flying abroad.”
On another trip, Carney spent just $9,270 on in-flight catering for himself and 62 others travelling to Poland, Germany and Latvia—showing international travel doesn’t have to come with a six-figure catering bill.
Other officials spent far less: Bill Blair’s entourage billed $2,350 on a 12-day trip, while a 2025 military delegation to Washington spent nothing on in-flight catering. Meanwhile, Carney routinely racks up five-figure catering bills despite promises to cut costs.
“It’s possible for the prime minister to travel internationally without billing taxpayers six figures for airplane food, so we need Carney to make sure these types of bills never happen again,” Terrazzano said.