Zilli adds star touch to Thomsonfly menu

Low-fares airline Thomsonfly is to improve its in-flight meal offerings with the help of TV chef Aldo Zilli.

Heeding passenger calls for better grub and deciding that its plane menu needed "star treatment", the carrier got Celebrity X Factor star and restaurateur Aldo Zilli on board to revamp its premium and economy meals.

Airline food is often maligned but the new Thomsonfly main courses will include mouth-watering offerings such as gorgonzola ravioli and chicken fillet smothered in smoked mozzarella. Salads will include pulses, peppers, chickpeas and feta cheese, while desserts promise to be "naughty-but-nice and wickedly delicious", the airline said.

For premium service on long-haul flights, meals will be accompanied by Abruzzo olive oil and parmesan cheese and there will also be tea and scones.

The new meals will be available in both premium and economy class, priced from £6.

Aldo Zilli was born in Italy but has been living in England for 30 years. He owns several restaurants in London, all of which have Zilli in their name.

He explained to Travel Weekly why he had got involved with Thomsonfly's menu: "At the moment the airline serves chicken pie with soggy vegetables. My idea is to change how people eat in the air. I want people to taste the difference, especially in economy."

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