British Airways earlier this year teamed up with celebrity Chef, Heston Blumenthal well known for his highly experimental dishes in an innovative project to take airline food to new heights.

The relationship between the airline and celebrity Chef has been on-going since the popular television series ‘Mission Impossible’ which aired earlier this year, where Heston explained what happens to the taste of food once it hits 35,000 feet above ground and how umami rich foods, also known as the ‘fifth taste’ retain their flavor.

After trying some of the signature dishes, including ‘seaweed cottage pie’ the airline’s catering staff were inspired to rethink their current menu and invited Blumenthal to create their new umami based menu.

British Airways head of customer experience Mark Hassell said there is a real science to food at altitude and his Heston’s creativity and inventory had inspired the airline.

The airlines decision to introduce umami-rich dishes is part of its ‘Height Health’ initiative, as part of this campaign the airline has also introduced a series of videos including ‘Wine in the sky’.

The partnership will continue into 2012, being the official airline for the Olympic Games, where Heston will mentor a prizewinner to create several new dished for the airline, which will take to the skies in February 2012.