Alaska’s regional airline Ravn Alaska has ruffled some feathers with a switch to a new onboard cookie provider. The airline, well known for giving its passengers the most wonderful freshly baked cookies, has announced a new partnership with Molly Bz Cookies to supply delicious treats, starting right now.Molly Bz, founded by Molly Blakeley, began life in her kitchen in rural Alaska, but has expanded to serve all 50 states and four different countries. Already launched on Ravn flights, the delectable cookies will also be available on Northern Pacific Airways services in the spring.

CEO of Ravn Alaska and Northern Pacific, Rob McKinney, commented,

“This is an exciting time to partner with Molly Bz. With her extensive background in baking and creativity, it was a logical next step to provide cookies from this Alaska owned and founded business.”

He notes that the most popular flavor right now is Snickerdoodles, although that could all change with the seasonal Cinnadoodle coming to Ravn flights in the coming weeks. Other seasonal varieties will be available throughout the year, and all the cookies come in a facelifted branded package that Rob just loves.

Molly herself is excited for the partnership, commenting that,

“I’m honored my cookie company Molly Bz has been selected for this amazing partnership. Ravn Alaska was my very first plane ride as a child. I remember being given a cookie & how it made me feel like home, even when I was nervous for my first flight.”

Previously, Ravn’s cookies were made by Illusions Food, an Anchorage-based supplier. Their giant cookies were popular on Ravn flights, so will passengers accept the change willingly?

Playing with fire?

History tells us that product changes onboard airplanes rarely go down without a fight from the frequent fliers. Remember when American Airlines did away with the Snickerdoodle from Christie Cookie Co in favor of a chocolate chunk cookie from Best Maid in first class? The reaction from regular fliers was fierce, although the supply of Biscoff continues in economy, much to everyone’s delight.

The drama doesn’t stop there. United Airlines had the audacity to remove the much-acclaimed Stroopwafel from inflight offerings in 2018. The ‘snack lash’ was extensive…

In a turn of events that eventually became known as ‘Stroopwafel-gate,’ United took the wise decision to undo the removal of the beloved snack. Passengers were suitably delighted.

Who knew a simple Dutch snack could elicit such a passionate response from passengers? First-world problem or not, the adoration for our favorite inflight snacks runs deeper than the Mariana Trench.

There are reams of other stories of onboard snack changes going down like a lead balloon – Alaska Airlines removing Biscoff cookies (and then rapidly reinstating them), freshly baked cookies being removed from American Airlines (they did not come back) and United trading Biscoffs for Oreo thins. The one airline that has never diverted from its cookie favorite is Delta, and its signature branded Biscoff cookies – a firm favorite to this day.

What will passengers make of Ravn’s switch?

The love for Ravn’s giant cookies runs deep with Alaskan fliers. Whether they will share the same love for Molly Bz cookies remains to be seen – let’s hope it’s a smooth transition!

What’s your favorite inflight snack that you would hate to see removed? Let us know in the comments.