Food and drink take on a whole new flavor at cruising altitude, a phenomenon that has intrigued researchers for years. The dry cabin air and lower pressure dull our taste buds, making food seem less flavorful. To combat this, airline meals are carefully crafted to taste better in the sky, often with added salt, oils, and umami flavors to compensate for what we lose in taste sensitivity. While airplane food has long had a less-than-stellar reputation, its gradually improving as airlines put more effort into their in-flight menus.