By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-20 17:55:19 | Updated at 2024-11-23 21:43:03
3 days ago
Hungry passengers aboard a major airline will soon be able to order Shake Shack on board - but there is a major catch.
Delta Airlines announced their 'sky-high collaboration' with the famed burger joint on Tuesday.
The new menu option comes with a cheeseburger, chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie that is meant to be 'reminiscent' of the restaurant's frozen custard item called Shack Attack.
The meal will officially be launched on December 1 on Delta flights departing out of Boston, as the company hopes to expand the offer in the future.
The catch is that only first class customers traveling more than 900 miles will be allowed to 'pre-select' a Shake Shack meal, which can be done one week ahead of their flight, according to the airline.
They can also make changes to their orders 24 hours ahead of time through the Fly Delta app or link in their email.
Passengers will also be able to customize their Shack Cheeseburgers - just like at the restaurant - with options to add the company's staple ShackSauce, tomato, and lettuce, all of which are served on the side.
Stephanie Laster, Managing Director of Onboard Service, said the airline's partnership with Shake Shack 'goes beyond the burger.'
Delta Airlines has announced that Shake Shack will be served to first class passengers departing out of Boston, starting December 1. (Pictured: Stock image)
The new menu option comes with a cheeseburger, but also includes chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie that is supposed to be 'reminiscent' of the restaurant's frozen custard items called Shack Attack
'Shake Shack’s people-first culture and commitment to enriching their neighborhoods are spot on with our own brand values of service excellence and helping the communities we serve,' Laster added.
Michael Kark, President of Global Licensing at Shake Shack, said the company is excited to take its 'beloved cheeseburger to new heights.'
'At Shake Shack, we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to meet our guests where they are, even at 35,000 feet.
'Taking our beloved cheeseburger to new heights, Shake Shack is proud to partner with Delta as we elevate the in-flight dining and hospitality experience for travelers across the country,' Kark said.
The new collaboration adds to Delta's well-established relationship with Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) and Danny Meyer, Founder and Executive Chairman of USHG, and the founder of Shake Shack.
Currently, meals from Union Square Events, USHGs catering company, are available on select Delta flights out of JFK Airport.
Only first class class customers traveling more than 900 miles will be allowed to 'pre-select' a Shake Shack meal a week ahead of their flight, according to the airline. (Pictured: Stock image)
Despite the new savory meal being added on Delta flights, experts have previously warned that dry cabin air, loud engine noises and cabin pressure can all affect the way food tastes.
According to research for Lufthansa by the Fraunhofer Institute, Artemis Aerospace noted in a previous blog post that salt is perceived to be between 20 and 30 percent less intense, and sugar 15 to 20 percent less intense at high altitude.
The company also found that overall, almost 70 percent of passengers' sense of taste is lost onboard.
This is due to a combination of factors, including the decibel level from the engine noise, and the less than 12 percent humidity, which rivals a desert atmosphere.
Artemis added: 'As if this weren't enough, low cabin pressure also decreases blood oxygen levels, which means that your olfactory receptors, which play a critical role in perceiving odors, become less sensitive.'
Underscoring how critical our sense of smell is, Artemis Aerospace explained that around 85 percent of what we think of as 'taste' is actually due to our sense of smell.
'So when people accuse airline food of being bland, this may not be an entirely fair assumption,' Artemis added.
Passengers will also be able to customize their Shack Cheeseburgers - just like at the restaurant - with options to add the company's staple ShackSauce, tomato, and lettuce, all of which are served on the side. (Pictured: File photo of Shake Shack cheeseburger)
Professor Charles Spence from the Crossmodal Research Laboratory at the University of Oxford has worked closely with the airline industry on dishes that do and don't work at high altitude.
He previously told MailOnline Travel that 'umami-forward foods' are ideal – 'so tomato, anchovy, mushroom, aged cheese and so on, all rich sources of umami, are likely to work well in the air.'
And as the onboard ovens dry the food out, meals generally need to be accompanied by plenty of sauce, Professor Spence added.
Spence noted that specific drinks also don't work well on flights, as well as certain cheeses.
'Old World wines that are tannic don't necessarily taste so great at altitude,' he said.
And Parmesan cheese is potentially perilous as it has a sweaty sock aroma.
Professor Spence said: 'One might want to avoid Parmesan cheese – though it is a great source of umami - given that one of the key volatile chemicals is shared with sweaty socks.'
