A full-length documentary film from Nik Loukas – creator of InFlightFeed.com – will pull back the curtain on how airlines source, prepare and deliver meals to passengers at 35,000 feet. ‘The Inflight Food Trip’ figures to reveal a world that few passengers ever see. Loukas is working together with accomplished Producer/Director James Mellor of Rainbow Trout Films.
To make this documentary a reality, Loukas is turning to the crowdsourcing community – A Kickstarter campaign with a funding goal of $74,000 (€65,000) wraps up on 4th May. Filming for ‘The Inflight Food Trip’ is set to begin by August 2016 and conclude by October. “Our purpose is to tell stories,” said Loukas, “and each airline we feature has a unique story behind how they produce their passengers’ meals. Whether one thinks a particular meal is good or bad, what can’t be denied is the level of planning and precision that goes into creating these menus. We want to show people what they’ve probably always taken for granted. The ‘stars’ of our film will be not just the airlines, but also cabin crews, inflight caterers and the general public.”
Some airlines have dedicated facilities for food preparation and taste-testing, while others have inflight kitchens. Many have professional chefs and strive to source ingredients locally.
No matter how airlines achieve the minor miracle of delivering inflight meals, the fact is that it is an astonishing operation with many moving parts. ‘The Inflight Food Trip’ will also dive into the surprising history of airline food, which dates all the way back to 1919. “When Nik came to me with the initial idea for ‘The Inflight Food Trip’, I saw this project had great potential,” said Mellor. “I love the challenge of making what seems like the impossible, possible. The shear scope of covering such a wide variety of airlines across the globe, with all the heritage and traditions of the different countries around the world, is quite exciting. My aim is to both inform and entertain our audience, whom I hope will come away with a fresh perspective on the world of inflight food.”
In 2012, Loukas created InFlightFeed.com as an online guide for passengers who wanted to know more about the food available on various flights. The site includes blog posts covering his globetrotting culinary adventures, menu and ingredient information, and meal reviews. Loukas has been quoted in publications such as Vogue, The New York Times and Conde Nast Traveler. He is also a regular columnist for Onboard Hospitality magazine in the UK.
