I’ll be completely honest. We have never been huge fans of airlines food. I typically bring a backpack full of snacks to compensate for what we don’t/won’t eat on the plane. I frequently get queasy just from the smell of the food and something in the coffee. My spouse has declined meals because he can’t handle the stench (which always surprises flight attendants).
But this summer, when we flew Lufthansa business class, something amazing happened. We both ate our dinners, and my husband even finished what was left on my plate. I was amazed. I was fully prepared to consume food from my rucksack but barely touched them!
So, when I was asked to a “behind the scenes” tour of LSG Sky Chefs’ facilities at Orlando International Airport a few weeks later to understand more about where airline food comes from, I quickly answered “yes”. Only a few agents were invited for this “exclusive” access. I’ve always been curious about the internal workings of airports, so this was an excellent opportunity to understand firsthand how things function on the food processing side.
The world’s largest provider of airline catering and in-flight services goes by the brand name LSG Sky Chefs. In Orlando, they collaborate with airlines including Lufthansa, Edelweiss, Delta, and Virgin, among others.
Juices and other
Before leaving for our trip, we had to put on jackets (like lab coats) and hairnets. We also had to remove all jewelry. Bearded men had to hide their facial hair. We were all joking at our new outfits, but we were grateful that they were so stringent for hygiene and safety.
The first stop on our tour was a warehouse where they kept all of the dry products for the various airlines. Each airline had its own “cage” (or numerous cages) where these products were housed, all unique to that airline (Lufthansa offers bottled water from Germany, for example). There were many containers of sodas, water, beer, meal trays, and other airline-branded products heaped high to the roof. It was overwhelming!
Food Trays
We were then led to the area where meal trays are prepared. This was the coldest area of our tour; it was continuously cold (I can’t remember what they said, but they joked it was the coldest room in Orlando – and I believe them!) There were tables in the center of the huge space where they assembled meal trays. Shelves are on wheels, allowing them to move whatever they need within easy reach. We arrived in the late afternoon, so the actual packing for the day was already achieved, but I assume it is a busy place in the morning. It functions almost like an assembly line, with each table handling a different portion of the tray. Believe
After the food trays are prepared, they are taken to the next room (which felt even colder) and loaded into the metal carts that you will see on the plane – the carts that have looked the same since I can remember. Before being transferred to the airplane, each item is carefully marked and sealed. They are kept at a consistent frigid temperature throughout to ensure food safety. They even have a resident USDA inspector in the building!
When it’s time to take it to the flights, they load the carts onto waiting trucks. The drive to the airport takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Security must inspect each truck, and every driver must leave.
They will then load the carts into planes (in a climate-controlled facility) and wait patiently till mealtime. Then – voila! – your lunch is waiting for you, just like magic!
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