Changning District issued China Eastern Airlines with a certificate on Wednesday that allows the local carrier to sell its infight and VIP lounge meals outside the city's airports.

The district’s market supervision bureau presented the food manufacturing certificate to Eastern Air Catering so its products can be sold at local supermarkets or restaurants.

The company has been supplying inflight meals to many Chinese and Asian Pacific airlines since the 1980s. Some 80 percent of the meals for flights at Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports are made by the company. It serves about 140,000 meals for China Eastern and other carriers daily.

To lessen the impact of the pandemic and expand its business, the food company applied to shift its service from air to the ground, according to the airline.

After receiving the food certificate, Eastern Air Catering also become the first Chinese company with food certificates from the customs and the market supervision authority.

Its first batch of products includes noodles being served in the airline's VIP lounge as well as vacuum-packed meals.