Chewing gum is often prescribed for travelers who experience pain in their ears due to changes in cabin air pressure as the plane takes off or lands and, in the past, was handed regularly on flights.
That tradition has gone bye-bye, but Air France is doing its part to bring it back.
The airline has created its own, all-natural, made-in-France chewing gum – “La gomme à mâcher” – with two flavors: pistachio-macaroon and crème brûlée.
The airline says the gum is now available before take-off on flights AF066 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Los Angeles and AF084 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to San Francisco and is being offered at various Air France lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (Terminal 2E, hall M, K, L, and 2 F1, F2, G) and Paris-Orly (hall 3).
Air France isn’t the first to bring bag chewing gum as an in-flight amenity.
When Hawaiian Airlines celebrated the 85th anniversary of inter-island passenger service back in November 2015, the airline handed out packets of Wrigley’s gum to all passengers that day, because back in 1929, when the airline started flying the first amenity offered to passengers was a stick of gum to relieve ear pressure.