Airplane food, it definitely is a very divisive topic. Some people absolutely hate it and prefer not to have any, even if that means they are hungry during the whole flight. Others are actually a bit nostalgic about the whole thing. Especially now that we are flying a lot less, frequent travelers are missing the taste of those reheated meals and are longing for some prepackaged vegetables and bread. If you are one of those – which, I am not going to lie, I find a bit weird – I have got some good news for you today. Finnish air company Finnair is now selling its airplane food in grocery stores, which means you can enjoy it without taking the plane. 2020 certainly does strange things to the world.
If you are living in Finland, get your bags and run to the supermarket. Well, to one supermarket in particular anayway: K-Citymarket Tammisto in Vantaa, just outside of Helsinki. That is the first store to sell Finnair’s range of business class plane food called ‘Taste of Finnair’. In the range, you will find all kinds of meals straight from the Nordic-Japanese fusion kitchen. Think reindeer meatballs, Arctic char and teriyaki beef. One meal will set you back about 10 euros, so it is not even that expensive to be honest.
1. Nostalgia
You might be wondering why-oh-why an air company would sell its plane food in grocery stores. So did I anyway. The answer is actually quite logical, even for those who do not enjoy the taste of those prepackaged meals. Finnair is looking to keep its kitchen staff employed during these challenging times and – of course – there is a nostalgic element as well, as some people are really missing their business class meals. “We want to offer the opportunity for a Finnair experience and everyday luxury at home, now that travel has been restricted in many ways,” said Finnair Kitchen Vice President Marika Nieminen. “At the same time, it keeps our chefs employed in Vantaa when most of Finnair Kitchen’s employees have been laid off. We can bring work and employment to our employees through a new experiment.”
2. Less spices
Due to the current pandemic, Finnair had to (temporarily) lay off a big part of its workforce, which counted no less than 7.000 employees before the crisis. No wonder that the company is looking for a way to maintain at least part of those at work. ‘Taste of Finnair’ is a way to do so and is at the same time a response to 60% of the Finnish people working from home, triggering a huge boom in takeaway food sales. Funny fact: the meals sold in supermarkets will contain less spices and salt than those served on board. The reason for that is the fact that people’s taste is reduced by high altitude.
