chewing gum

 

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.

 

Hawaiian Airlines: why all the gum?

On Monday, journalists gathered at Hawaiian Airlines’ Honolulu headquarters for the carrier’s first global media day and the announcement that the airline is adding lie-flat seats to the premium cabins on its fleet of A330 aircraft.

hawaiian airline seats

During the event, refreshments were laid out for the attendees. And in with the coffee, water, fruit and trail mix were boxes filled with packs of Doublemint gum.

The gum seemed like an odd offering until it was explained that last November, when Hawaiian Airlines was celebrating the 85th anniversary of interisland passenger service, Doublemint gum was part of the festivities.

The reason: back in 1929, the first inflight amenity offered to passengers was a stick of Wrigley’s gum to help relieve ear pressure.

Hawaiian Airlines revived that tradition during its anniversary day celebration on November 11, 2015 by once again handing out Wrigley’s Doublemint gum to passengers (along with some other goodies) to the more than 12,000 passengers taking neighbor island flights that day.

Hawaiian gum offer

Hawaiian Airlines gum box

But not all the gum Wrigley’s sent to Hawaiian Airlines for the celebration was used.

Not by a longshot. Which is why Doublemint gum is now there on the refreshment table at a lot of Hawaiian Airlines events.

hawaiian airlines gumbox (3)