Monarch blew thousands on an ‘energising’ inflight menu tested by a friend of Heston Blumenthal as the firm headed to financial disaster.
The budget airline recruited leading food psychologist Professor Charles Spence to rustle up some treats to boost the moods and ‘reduce the stresses’ of travellers.
The complimentary snacks included ‘immunity-boosting’ Echinacea and liquorice ice cream, ‘relaxing’ green tea and lavender mochi rice cakes, served to flyers as part of Monarch’s #YearofNice campaign.
Monarch blew thousands on this ‘energising’ in-flight menu, which included immunity boosting ice cream
The complimentary snacks were served to flyers as part of Monarch’s #YearofNice campaign
Monarch recruited leading food psychologist Professor Charles Spence (left), known for his work with top chef Heston Blumenthal (right), to rustle up the mood boosting treats
However, while the menu was launched, the airline’s bosses were navigating their way through a financial storm that would eventually see the carrier collapse.
On Monday the firm went bust, costing 1,858 people their jobs and leaving 110,000 passengers stranded across Europe.
Hours after Monarch staff were pictured sobbing outside its Luton headquarters, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling promised Britain’s biggest ever peacetime repatriation mission to rescue Brits abroad, at a cost of £60million to the taxpayer.
The Civil Aviation Authority has chartered 34 planes from 16 different airlines, including EasyJet and Qatar Airlines, with passengers expected back over the next two weeks.
But back in August, when Monarch launched its bizarre list of treats, the airline seemed fully focused on its customers’ comfort.
Discussing the black colour of the his flu-fighting ice cream, Prof Spence said it would ‘distract passengers from their chaotic journey whilst also surprising them and playing into childlike nostalgia.’
Monarch launched the menu to enable its customers to ‘relax, feel good and start enjoying their holiday from the moment they get to the gate’
The menu offered passengers a sweet caramelised nut bar coated in mushroom and tomato-infused powder to ‘awaken the senses’, just before they touch down
Around 30 minutes into the flight, lavender mochi rice cakes (left) would be washed down by a herbal tea blend of chamomile, fennel seed and kelp (right)
He added that the malleable texture of the lavender rice cakes, would help calm fearful flyers.
Prof Spence explained: ‘The soft, chewy texture of the rice encourages mastication, which has proven anti-stress properties, reducing tension much like chewing gum.
‘The chewy rice snack has therefore been designed to help reduce passenger stress on aeroplanes.’
Around 30 minutes into the flight, the experimental mood food would be washed down by a herbal tea blend of chamomile, fennel seed and kelp.
Monarch customers left stranded without flights talk with officials at Birmingham Airport on Monday
Monarch Airlines check-in desks stand empty after the airline ceased trading at Birmingham Airport on Monday
Passengers would then chomp on a crunchy, seaweed biscuit, to help combat bloating and indigestion.
Finally, the menu offered passengers a sweet caramelised nut bar coated in mushroom and tomato-infused powder to ‘awaken the senses’, just before they touch down.
The snacks were due to be trialled on flights from Luton to Naples, Gibraltar and Malaga.
Speaking just after the snack launch, Monarch chief operating officer, Nils Christy, said: ‘We know how precious time on holiday is, so are delighted to be able to listen to our customers’ needs and trial the Monarch mood food box this summer, enabling more people to relax, feel good and start enjoying their holiday from the moment they get to the gate.’