En Route International has a launched a range of ‘light-touch’ snacking and meal boes for airlines, designed to enable them to offer inflight catering to passengers as the aviation industry transitions back to normal schedules post Covid-19. The boxes are designed to support efficient inflight service, with minimal handling or customer contact required.
The range is made up of food boxes that offer airlines entry-level options consisting of a snack, water and hand sanitisers, rising to boxes that include more substantial meal varieties. The flexible choice enables airlines to select the options that best suit the behaviours and preferences of their passenger profiles.
According to research published by The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and the International Flight Services Association (IFSA), approximately 400,000 conversations have taken place in March and April on social media, expressing concern about food safety on-board aircraft.
En Route believes its new boxes address these concerns, through a focus on central production and packing in BRC and FDA grade facilities to ensure supply chain integrity and safety.
The company has also introduced a range of IFW bakery items and packed fresh-cut premium cheese solutions, also designed for the transition back to regular operations.
Hamish Cook, executive director of En Route, stated, “We know that consumer confidence is going to be a major contributor to how quickly our sector recovers from the challenges caused by the pandemic. That’s why we’ve developed a range of products that are designed to provide reassurance to crew and passengers about their food, where it has come from and how it has been handled on its journey.
“Our own research has found that passengers may be wary of ‘open’ style food and meals and will be looking for more product integrity through packaging. These ‘light-touch’ options have been created to help during the transition period between where we are now and when normal service resumes,” he added.
