It depends on the specific airline whether water is provided without meals. Generally, airlines will provide drinks without meals, but low-cost airlines do not.

airplane meals are meals provided to passengers by civil aviation aircraft during the voyage.

The menu of airplane meals is determined by airlines, and is generally provided by designated catering organizations. It is prepared near the airport and delivered directly to the airplane. When the airplane is stable in the middle of the voyage, the flight attendant puts it on a trolley and distributes it to passengers.

There are differences in the menu, quantity and cost of airplane meals in different classes.

First-class and business-class airplane meals try to imitate high-class restaurants in food and dining procedures, but they are always different from real restaurants.

Economy-class airplane meals are similar to fast food. Distribution efficiency, storage volume and cost are the main considerations, and the taste of the food certainly cannot make passengers have high expectations.