British Airways could be about to charge for food on short-haul flights
British Airways looks set to cave in to the pressure from low-cost airlines and start charging economy passengers for in-flight meals on its short-haul flights, according to reports this afternoon.
The flag-carrier has clutched on to its in-flight perks as a key point of differentiation with the likes of Easyjet and Ryanair after the budget carriers introduced features such as allocated seating, flexible fares and loyalty schemes to try and tempt business customers away from the legacy airlines.
In such a competitive industry, however, British Airways appears ready to concede, as insiders suggest the firm will be scrapping the free meal for all passengers to keep costs under control. The Independent reported this morning that "airline sources suggest that Alex Cruz, who took over as chief executive at BA last month, may bring in Waitrose to supply high-quality snacks at premium prices".
Read more: Passenger numbers up at British Airways-owner International Airlines Group (IAG).
British Airways said the suggestions were just "speculation" but did not deny that the move was being considered. A spokesperson for the airline said: "We are constantly reviewing every element of the experience our customers receive, including the in-flight catering to ensure we're delivering what they want."
British Airways has recently introduced a a new pre-paid option which allows long-haul passengers to order a gourmet meal as an upgrade to the complimentary offer.