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BA set to scrap short-haul meals BA set to scrap short-haul meals
(about 2 hours later)
British Airways is to scrap all free meals, except breakfast, on its short-haul flights to save £22m a year.British Airways is to scrap all free meals, except breakfast, on its short-haul flights to save £22m a year.
Passengers on flights after 10am, which last less than two-and-half hours, will only be served drinks and snacks. They will not have the option to buy food.Passengers on flights after 10am, which last less than two-and-half hours, will only be served drinks and snacks. They will not have the option to buy food.
The measure, starting next week, comes as the airline is trying to trim costs.The measure, starting next week, comes as the airline is trying to trim costs.
It is raising more than £600m to help weather the recession, while thousands of staff have agreed to take pay cuts or working part-time.It is raising more than £600m to help weather the recession, while thousands of staff have agreed to take pay cuts or working part-time.
'Avoid waste''Avoid waste'
Currently passengers on short-haul flights typically get a sandwich. This will be replaced by a bag of nuts or other snack.Currently passengers on short-haul flights typically get a sandwich. This will be replaced by a bag of nuts or other snack.
The economic downturn has hit demand for air travel Axing meals on short-haul flights will reduce BA's differentiation from the no-frills carriers Laurie PriceAirline analyst
But the carrier insisted it was still a "full service" airline, with those flying before 10am continuing to be served with breakfast.But the carrier insisted it was still a "full service" airline, with those flying before 10am continuing to be served with breakfast.
"When you fly with British Airways, the in-flight catering is top-class and, unlike some other airlines, it is free," a BA spokesman said."When you fly with British Airways, the in-flight catering is top-class and, unlike some other airlines, it is free," a BA spokesman said.
"It is not unusual to make small changes to avoid waste and save money where it makes sense and it meets customers' changing tastes.""It is not unusual to make small changes to avoid waste and save money where it makes sense and it meets customers' changing tastes."
Its research suggested that it was only after two-and-a-half hours in the air that passengers require more substantial refreshments, they added.Its research suggested that it was only after two-and-a-half hours in the air that passengers require more substantial refreshments, they added.
Revenue streamRevenue stream
The economic downturn has hit demand for air travel
Budget carriers have always sold food and drink as an optional extra.Budget carriers have always sold food and drink as an optional extra.
Easyjet has revealed that the average passenger pays £10 per flight in so-called "ancillary revenues" - which includes items sold on board as well as checked-in baggage charges.Easyjet has revealed that the average passenger pays £10 per flight in so-called "ancillary revenues" - which includes items sold on board as well as checked-in baggage charges.
BA has been in negotiations for several weeks with unions over plans to cut costs and has asked thousands of employees to take pay cuts or work for nothing. BA will be looking at all of its business and "some sacred cows could go", said Laurie Price, director of aviation strategy at Mott MacDonald.
"Axing meals on short-haul flights will reduce BA's differentiation from the no-frills carriers," he warned.
"But with things like not charging for checking in at a desk and free drinks, passengers are still getting more elements of a free service."
He said that during the day, most passengers would have the opportunity to buy food at the airport, and so there would only be "marginal" profits if BA decided to sell food on board, after taking into account costs including transportation and cleaning.
BA has been in negotiations for several weeks with unions over its wider plans to cut costs and has asked thousands of employees to take pay cuts or work for nothing.
Earlier this month, BA pilots voted overwhelmingly to accept a 2.6% pay cut. Talks with unions representing cabin crew and ground staff are ongoing, but if no resolution is reached, the firm could face a summer of strikes by its 14,000 cabin crew.Earlier this month, BA pilots voted overwhelmingly to accept a 2.6% pay cut. Talks with unions representing cabin crew and ground staff are ongoing, but if no resolution is reached, the firm could face a summer of strikes by its 14,000 cabin crew.