![Inflight appetite](https://cdn.magzter.com/1450191940/1687793619/articles/_mTFcBF951687850340213/INFLIGHT-APPETITE.jpg)
It's rush hour when I arrive at Gate Gourmet's airline catering centre near Heathrow airport. A number of transatlantic flights have just landed and it's time to offload the equipment. Cars are replaced by bumper-to-bumper aluminium carts, while beeping horns are substituted by the cacophonous clattering of crockery. Trollies are wheeled towards industrial-sized dishwashers, where containers of all shapes, sizes and materials are deposited onto conveyor belts, not dissimilar to those at airport security. Within five minutes, they roll out spick and span (if only I could have one of these appliances at home). This might sound like the end of a story, but it's just the beginning. Washed and ready, these containers are about to embark on their next journey, carried in carts labelled with airport codes TLV (Tel Aviv), JFK (New York) and PVG (Shanghai).
Gate Gourmet, a subsidiary of Swiss company gategroup, looks after clients such as Virgin Atlantic and joint venture partner Delta and caters to several visiting long-haul carriers. Outbound and inbound meals are often produced by different companies, as most airlines prefer to stock fresh produce rather than load an additional set of meals (and excess weight) for the return leg. Unbeknownst to me, I had already experienced Gate Gourmet's meals on board a Korean Air flight to Seoul, (ironically, on a visit to the Korean Air Catering facility - which in turn caters for 22 visiting airlines). In addition to food and alcohol, airline catering companies also take care of everything from toilet paper and amenity kits to pillows and blankets, with their facilities resembling a hybrid of Costco and Ikea.
Kitchen consistency
Denne historien er fra July/August 2023-utgaven av Business Traveller UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July/August 2023-utgaven av Business Traveller UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Adventures in Albania - From paranoid dictatorship to dream travel destination, why the Balkan nation is ready for its moment in the sun](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/UcIxYrW6-1724926161636/crp_Albania-Vlor-Hoxha-Tirana-Skanderbeg-Square-travellers-taverling-Albania-turism-Maldives-of-Europe-Ksamill-Balkan-country-Enver-Hoxha-Europe-Adriatic-and-Ionian-coastline-Albanian-Riviera-Dhrmi-hiking-trails.jpg)
Adventures in Albania - From paranoid dictatorship to dream travel destination, why the Balkan nation is ready for its moment in the sun
Over the past few years, tourism has shot up stratospherically; recent figures from the European Travel Commission show it's grown 86 per cent since 2019. Its GDP per capita has also been increasing, and last year stood at US$8,800, while the average monthly salary is now around 84,000 lek (£704). Foreign direct investment is also on the rise, with countries including Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands targeting sectors such as energy, mining, information and real estate to a value of around US$1.5 billion in 2022, according to UNCTAD's World Investment Report. Not bad for a country which used to depend on foreign food aid.
![Sushi Kanesaka at 45 Park Lane, London](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/uf5ltCNfa1724928633870/SUSHI-KANESAKA-AT-45-PARK-LANE-LONDON.jpg)
Sushi Kanesaka at 45 Park Lane, London
Watching Kanesaka work his magic is performance in itself
![Scandic Spectrum, Copenhagen](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/opep32Ut71724928445636/SCANDIC-SPECTRUM-COPENHAGEN.jpg)
Scandic Spectrum, Copenhagen
An impressive corporate hotel just minutes from Copenhagen's centre
![Kimpton Clocktower, Manchester](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/oRc1uJZtn1724928262825/KIMPTON-CLOCKTOWER-MANCHESTER.jpg)
Kimpton Clocktower, Manchester
The perfect mix of gorgeous heritage design with cool, cosmopolitan attitude
![Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/8sK9OY9R81724928091646/MANDARIN-ORIENTAL-MAYFAIR-LONDON.jpg)
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
A stunning success another calming experience in the capital
![Eurostar Business Premier LONDON-PARIS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/4okM0QBrJ1724927891955/EUROSTAR-BUSINESS-PREMIER-LONDONPARIS.jpg)
Eurostar Business Premier LONDON-PARIS
It remains the superior service for those travelling from London to Paris
![Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER first class DOHA-HONG KONG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/bWtWVdt0D1724927686241/QATAR-AIRWAYS-BOEING-777300ER-FIRST-CLASS-DOHAHONG-KONG.jpg)
Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER first class DOHA-HONG KONG
There is a lot to like, but my experience was far from perfect
![4 HOURS IN...Vienna](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/Mda1UBh1_1724927444600/4-HOURS-INVIENNA.jpg)
4 HOURS IN...Vienna
You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to the Austrian capital's museums, galleries and historic cafes
![SWITCHING OFF IN...THE LOIRE VALLEY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/nVXP6Ls_N1724927149809/SWITCHING-OFF-INTHE-LOIRE-VALLEY.jpg)
SWITCHING OFF IN...THE LOIRE VALLEY
Escape to the secluded forests of the Loire Valley for a digital detox
![More is more in the Maldives](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/12157/1812534/OKD6g5EmS1724926712645/MORE-IS-MORE-IN-THE-MALDIVES.jpg)
More is more in the Maldives
From sky dives to submersibles, we explore the most extravagant experiences available in the Maldives