Alpha rolls out trayless meals

Alpha Airports has started serving "trayless" in-flight meals on charter routes operated by MyTravel Airways.

Meal trays have been replaced by a disposable rolled mat, which contains cutlery and cold items such as cheese, biscuits, desserts, and a waste bag. The unrolled mat acts as a tablecloth. The cabin crew deliver hot meals such as cottage pie, creamy chicken bake, and fish and chips in a heat-proof plastic dish.

The waste bag allows passengers to pack away their meal when they want, without having to wait for cabin crew to clear the table. Dishes and trays no longer need to be transported back to the depot and washed.

Kevin Abbott, chief executive of Alpha Airports, said the new service's packaging and food quality emulated contemporary high-street outlets such as Pret A Manger and Marks & Spencer. "The whole system has time, cost and space benefits for airlines," he added.

Research by Alpha found that 63% of charter passengers expect a complimentary hot meal, but only 20% rated previous in-flight meals as good.