The first ever meal was served on a flight from London to Paris on 1 May 1927. The luxury service was called ‘Silver Wing’ because in those days the most exclusive airplanes had shining silver fuselages.
Silver Wing lunches consisted of highly sophisticated dishes, a trolley with roasts, one with French cheeses and a selection of the finest pastries (almost like being on board our flights!).
Passengers would eat their meals at real tables while comfortably sitting on padded armchairs, as was customary in luxury restaurants at the time.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the economic boom led to a huge surge in demand for airline tickets and companies tailored their services to the new market.
The growing number of passengers gave rise to new spaces, new ergonomics and, above all, new safety rules.
The sumptuous feasts turned into quick snacks and, as a consequence, the on-board tables became smaller and were stored inside the armrests.
It was a practical solution, but not entirely hygienic and still too cumbersome.
It was not until 1973 that Edward J. Brennan obtained patent number US3773381A for a revolutionary invention that we take for granted today: the tray table that folds down from the back of the seat in front of you.
Today, Brennan’s folding tray table enables us to provide quality services with comfortable seating while guaranteeing maximum safety for passengers.
N.B.: Don’t forget that your tray table must always be folded up during take-off and landing!
