It probably goes without saying that airline food is not our favourite food. Sure, there are some airlines that do a pretty good job of keeping you well-fed in the air (Air New Zealand do a mean meat pie, and Korean Air do a fabulous bento-style meal), but for the most part, airline food is pretty sad.

Apart from the logistical challenges of feeding more than a hundred people all at once in the air, with limited access to heat and water, there’s a reason airline food is so bland. Well, two, actually.

The Kitchn reports that our senses smell and taste both rely on humidity – but up in the air, those senses are dulled because humidity levels can drop below 15 per cent (in other words, it’s drier than a desert up there – literally). Less moisture means your taste buds aren’t as receptive to the differences between sweet and salty, resulting in meh-tasting food.

Interestingly, though, noise also plays a part. In-flight, noise levels can reach 85 decibels (a level at which hearing loss can occur if there’s prolonged exposure). The loudness means your other senses (like smell and taste) can be less sensitive than normal, meaning you might enjoy your food less.