At 35,000 feet, there is no room for error.
Airline catering operates under some of the most demanding conditions in foodservice: strict safety standards, tight turnaround times, limited space, weight constraints, and growing sustainability pressure—all while delivering a consistent passenger experience across thousands of flights per day.
At Coppice, we don’t just manufacture aluminium trays. We design packaging systems that work seamlessly within the airline catering ecosystem.
The Reality of Airline Catering
Airlines and flight caterers face a unique operational challenge:
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Meals are prepared off-site, often hours before service
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Food must move safely through chilling, storage, transport, reheating, and service
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Weight and space efficiency directly impact fuel costs and logistics
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Packaging must meet global food safety, regulatory, and sustainability requirements
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Presentation still matters—because the onboard meal is a key touchpoint in the passenger experience
Packaging is not an accessory in this environment.
It is infrastructure.
Where Coppice Fits In
Coppice has decades of experience supplying aluminium packaging into highly regulated, high-volume foodservice environments. This expertise makes us a natural partner for airline caterers and inflight service providers.
Our role goes beyond supplying a tray—we support the entire lifecycle of an airline meal.
1. Operational Reliability at Scale
Airlines depend on consistency. Our aluminium trays are manufactured to tight tolerances and designed for repeatable performance across:
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Blast chilling
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Cold storage
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High-volume transport
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Onboard reheating
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Efficient cabin service
This reliability helps reduce waste, minimise service disruptions, and keep operations running smoothly—flight after flight.
2. Weight, Efficiency, and Handling
In aviation, every gram matters.
Aluminium provides a critical balance of lightweight performance and structural strength, helping airlines and caterers:
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Optimise payload efficiency
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Improve handling during fast-paced service
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Maintain tray integrity through multiple process stages
The result is packaging that supports both operational efficiency and cost control.
3. Sustainability That Works in Practice
Sustainability in aviation must be practical, scalable, and compliant.
Aluminium is:
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Infinitely recyclable without loss of quality
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Widely recognised and accepted within recycling streams
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Aligned with airline ESG goals and passenger expectations
By choosing aluminium trays, airlines can move away from complex multi-material packaging and towards simpler, more circular solutions—without compromising performance or food safety.
4. Supporting the Passenger Experience
Inflight meals are about more than nutrition—they are part of the brand experience.
Aluminium trays:
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Hold heat effectively for better meal quality
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Present food cleanly and professionally
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Support consistent portioning and plating
This helps airlines deliver meals that look better, taste better, and feel more premium—whether in economy, premium economy, or business class.
A Partner, Not Just a Supplier
What sets Coppice apart is our industry-first mindset.
We work closely with:
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Airline caterers
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Food manufacturers
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Procurement and operations teams
to ensure our packaging integrates smoothly into existing workflows, equipment, and service models. Our global manufacturing capability and responsive support structure mean airlines can rely on security of supply, even in complex or high-demand environments.
Designed for Flight, Built for the Future
As the airline industry continues to evolve—balancing efficiency, sustainability, and passenger expectations—packaging will play an increasingly strategic role.
Coppice is proud to support airlines and caterers with aluminium solutions that are:
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Operationally proven
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Scalable at global volumes
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Aligned with sustainability goals
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Built for the realities of inflight service
Because when everything else changes at altitude, your packaging needs to perform without compromise.
If you’d like to discuss how Coppice supports airline catering operations—or explore tailored aluminium tray solutions for inflight service—our team is ready to help.