British Airways have confirmed it will drop free food and drink on its short-haul flights and instead offer passengers the opportunity to buy snacks and sandwiches provided by Marks & Spencer. The airline has signed a deal with M&S that will see it replace free meals on flights of less than five hours. Club Europe passengers though will continue to enjoy a complimentary menu.
B.A. has claimed the move is in response to customer feedback. BA chairman and chief executive Alex Cruz claimed their offering “sets a new standard in short haul catering”. He said: “We know our customers expect a great experience with British Airways. They’ve told us we are experts in flying and service, but when it comes to catering on short haul flights, they want to choose from a wider range of premium products. Like British Airways, Marks & Spencer is a well-known, premium British brand that is respected and trusted, so it’s an ideal partnership, providing our customers with a choice of products they recognise and value.”
But aviation analyst Alex Macheras said it was unlikely BA would use the money it saved on food to cut ticket prices. “Unfortunately you have to be realistic. This sandwich is basically nothing on the ticket price, so what will disappear from the price? Nothing.”
The changes will be rolled out on services in and out of Heathrow and Gatwick at the beginning of next year, with Stansted and London City to follow by the summer, by which time fliers will be able to avail themselves of items from M&S’s usual range, including a ploughman’s sandwich, a bacon bap, or a bag of Percy Pigs sweets. The retailer will not be providing drinks.
ndy Adcock, director of food at M&S, said: “We’re proud to be supplying a great British brand with a reputation for quality and customer service that mirrors our own. For 35 years we’ve had a market leading Food on the Move offer and we’ll supply British Airways with customer favourites and healthy choices made with outstanding ingredients, all with the provenance you’d expect from M&S.”
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