The food options here are something other airports should emulate

The airport

Dusseldorf Airport (DUS) is the fourth-largest airport in Germany with 70 airlines flying to 177 destinations across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

The flight

Qatar QR86 from Dusseldorf, Germany, to Doha, Qatar (DOH).

The arrival

The airport is 7.2 kilometres from the centre of Dusseldorf and has its own train station. I plan to test the train line’s efficiency but my hosts surprise me with a pre-ordered taxi. I can’t say no to their thoughtfulness so instead of a €7 journey that takes five minutes, I spend 20 minutes in a car and €30. But it’s not all bad. My driver and I chat all the way to the airport, which makes up for the time and price difference. When he drops me off at the terminal, there’s no grand entrance: I’m greeted by a temporary construction zone.

The look

I head to Terminal C, one of the three terminals within the airport linked by a central concourse. Terminal C was opened in 1986 and is the airport’s most recent extension. All glass, steel and polished floors, it’s modern, spacious and designed for efficiency, but without much flair. I could be in any major airport in the world.

Check-in

Despite my timely arrival, check-in is slow as there are family groups with loads of luggage in front of me. My bag is carry-on sized, but is too heavy and needs to be checked in, so although I feel silly waiting to hand it over, it being so small, I’m glad to be bag-free for my two-hour transit in Doha en route to Australia.

Security

Passing through security is straightforward and thorough and there’s no friendliness from the security staff who take their job (thankfully) super seriously. We’re all being processed on an assembly line; I’m just one of the 20 million people who pass through this major regional airport each year.

Food and drink

I only have a six-hour flight ahead of me so I’d rather eat something good on the ground and skip the in-flight options. However, as a vegetarian I’m not optimistic. Even when I can find something without meat, it’s rarely very appetising. There are the usual kiosks and cafes, but I’m excited when I see a Marche restaurant, which has an on-site bakery and pizza, pasta and schnitzel kitchen. I make a bee-line for “vegetarian island”, a stand-alone cabinet with excellent vegetarian and vegan food ranging from salads to hot dishes including a tempting potato gratin. After two weeks in a wurst wonderland, this is exactly the kind of food I want to eat.

According to Clean Energy Wire, about 10 per cent of Germans are vegetarian or vegan, another 40 per cent only consume meat occasionally and both groups skew younger, so this offering makes sense. Judging by the amount of people queueing to order, it’s the most popular place to eat. I pick up a small plate of salads and a green juice and head to the timber tables to enjoy the sunshine streaming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Retail therapy

I spot FC Bayern Munich merchandise, mini cuckoo clocks, souvenirs of the city’s iconic Radschlager (cartwheeler) sculptures, steins and Altbier liqueur, a specialty liquor found in Dusseldorf. There’s a luxury boutique of knits, lingerie and socks from German brand Falke, books and newspapers in multiple languages, and the usual tech, games and travel supplies.

Passing time

A bar in the middle of the gate lounges has expansive views of the runway, so it’s hard not to want to pull up a stool and make the most of the opportunity to have one more taste of Germany. Many of my fellow passengers do the same. Lounge chairs at the gate can’t compete with a comfy bar stool, even if I am only having a lemonade.

The verdict

The power of good food that’s both healthy and vegetarian friendly, a nice place to sit and a view makes an ordinary airport experience shine. Other airports take note – inclusive catering is a win.

Our rating out of five