The problem is compounded by various factors: the sheer scale of the catering process, international health regulations, varying governmental waste policies and space constraints on board. Airlines must plan for food safety, hygiene, freshness and weight -- hence the vast amounts of plastic in every plane cabin. "Dining in the sky is quite different than popping down to your local café," Mark Ross-Smith, a big data specialist, airline consultant, and founder of Travel Data Daily, tells CNN Travel.