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Emirates Group announced that it will open the world’s largest indoor vertical farm to produce better airplane food. The Dubai-based conglomerate is investing USD 40 million in the 900-acre establishment, which will produce higher quality and chemical-free produce for its airlines and airport lounges. Indoor vertical farms use no sunlight, soil or chemicals, and do not require as much water as a regular farm. Fliers are scheduled to be eating Emirates’ farm-fresh meals by December 2019.

It is no secret that airplane food has often struggled to meet even the lowest of consumers’ standards. However customers’ rising expectations – for healthy, sustainably-produced food – don’t simply stop at the aircraft gate!

Some takeaways from this innovation to mull over with your team:

• Can new technologies in other industries (in this case vertical farming) transform a previously challenging part of your business operations?

• Customer expectations won’t just be applied to the ‘core’ element of your product or service. Are you delivering the best-of-the-best at every step in your customer journey?
  
  
• Emirates isn’t alone in trying to improve mid-air meals: Air New Zealand will begin serving Impossible burgers. Could you partner with a similarly expectation-setting brand to make up for your customer experience shortfalls?

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