Virgin unveils new economy dining service
Published: 01/11/2011 - Filed under: News »
Virgin has today unveiled a new economy in-flight dining service across its network, as part of its recently-announced £100 million product investment.
The carrier says the new offering “will feel much more like a restaurant service”, with passengers being served a welcome cocktail consisting of a mix of fruit juices with or without vodka, and served in “a fabulous new purple glass with a stylish, quirky, new swizzle stick”.
The meal service will now be served on a soft touch, non slip meal tray, which has been reduced in size by a third to allow passengers more space on their tray table. New purple crockery and cutlery has also been introduced.
Economy travellers will also benefit from a separate dessert and hot drinks service, which Virgin says will offer “bigger desserts, served with a choice of tea, coffee or now a comforting mug of hot chocolate on night flights”.
Similar to scenes from the carrier’s stylish advert from last year (click here to view), ice creams will now be served by cabin crew wearing usherette trays.
Chief operating officer Steve Griffiths admitted that it had been “been many years now since we last refreshed our economy meal service”, and added that “We have listened to feedback from our passengers and cabin crew and have introduced some different and innovative items into our economy service and we have carefully separated dining into courses – much more like a restaurant service on the ground”.
The news follows Virgin's decision to drop its popular aircraft-shaped salt and pepper shakers in Upper Class (see online news October 6), ahead of a planned revamp of premium cutlery and dining ware.
For more information visit virginatlantic.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
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