Thomsonfly, which claims to be Britain”s third largest airline based on fleet size, has gone into partnership with celebrity chef Aldo Zilli (pictured) to offer a serious upgrade in airline catering. The new products were revealed at a presentation at the chef”s London Soho (Brewer Street) restaurant. Served by the airline staff, the outstanding cuisine had actually been prepared at a Yorkshire flight kitchen and then trucked down to London in an attempt to simulate a real airline flight. The guests were not aware of the way the outstanding food had been prepared (and just warmed up in the Zilli ovens).
”Outstanding,” said a well known voice. ”This move will really shake up the holiday airline business. For too long passengers on long haul have suffered from the poorest of catering.”
From May 2007 passengers will be offered new menus which will stretch across both economy and premium classes. Customers will benefit from a complete Aldo Zilli experience ” evident in all elements of the airline meal tray, including salads, main meals and desserts, as well as quality branded condiments.
Passengers in economy class will be offered tomato and mushroom pasta salad with crumbled goat”s cheese, followed by either chicken fillets glazed with smoked mozzarella served on pecorino ravioli (pictured below) or beef pizzaiola with garlic mash, or the vegetarian option mushroom ravioli with truffle oil. The desert choice will include mascarpone mousse, glazed apple caramel or cr”me patisserie.
The premium class menu includes crayfish and mango salad, saut”ed lamb chunks with rosemary potatoes, peppers and broccoli and warm chocolate brownie with raspberry pannacotta ice cream.
The new menus will feature alongside a series of other innovations on Thomsonfly”s in-flight experience for next year. An increased seat pitch is being introduced on many of its long haul flights to 33-inch (84cm) leg room in standard class, two inches more than either BA or Virgin and 37-inch (94cm) leg room on premium class flights. A more sophisticated seat back entertainment system is also being implemented. To ensure that no one misses out on the new menus, Thomsonfly offers all its customers pre-bookable meals.
Thomsonfly managing director Colin Mitchell commented: ”This partnership should go some of the way to change people”s perceptions of airline meals and show there is no need to compromise on standard and choice. The new menus are just a part of our wider, ongoing programme to improve the whole in-flight experience. We want our customers to be pleasantly surprised by the outstanding quality of food we will offer for summer 2007 and winter 2007/8.”