airsLLide No. 11820: HB-IUH, McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83), Crossair, Zürich, May 3, 1996.
Nightbirds: Meet the McPlane, as HB-IUH was generally referred to by crews and customers of Crossair. In cooperation with tour operator Hotelplan and the US fast-food chain, Corssair offered the services of its unique holiday jet on selected leisure flights to Mediterranean destinations, specifically aimed at families travelling with children.
A trimmed selection of McDonald's menu was offered in-flight, with the main challenge finding ways to prepare acceptable french fries within all the restrictions applying to aircraft galleys - these restrictions include, of course, a ban on deep fryers and hot oil on-board.
At the period of the McPlane, the Swiss franchise-partner of the fast-food chain searched various ways of expanding its business into the transport industry. Apart from the MD-80, it also operated two branded dining cars in selected Intercity-trains running on the East-West trunkline of the Swiss Federal Railways between St. Gallen and Geneva, covering two of the usually ten train sets running that service back and forth on an hourly intervall. Furthermore, the outlet searched explicitly for locations inside or immediately adjacent to major train stations (or depots for the US reader) and inner city transit hubs where many connecting passengers would be passing by. The McPlane and the dining cars were discontinued after just a few years as they were costly to operate and generated little revenue, while the strategy to mainly place the food outlets at public transit hubs turned out to be a cash-cow and has been maintained since.
dededos
ellievsbear
jacobvanloon
annaxmalina
izzy806
baratheonpilled
