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LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - British Airways said on Thursday it will no longer provide free snacks and food in economy class on short-haul and domestic flights, joining budget carriers like Ryanair
RYA.I
and easyJet
EZJ.L
which charge for sandwiches and other items.
BA, owned by IAG
ICAG.L
, said from January it would sell food from British retailer Marks & Spencer
MKS.L
to economy class travellers. Passengers travelling in the class above economy will continue to receive free meals, as will passengers on long-haul flights.
The change comes as BA's parent company IAG tries to cut costs at a time of increasing competition in the European short-haul market and will narrow the gap between flights offered by BA and its low-cost, no-frills rivals.
The airline said the switch to selling M&S food was driven by customer dissatisfaction with the its current short-haul economy catering.
"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," BA chief executive Alex Cruz said in the statement.
BA said it would sell an M&S Aberdeen Angus beef and red onion chutney bloomer for 4 pounds 75 pence, a hot bacon roll for the same price, plus other breakfast options, nuts, crisps and chocolates, and customers could pay using Avios points, part of a BA loyalty scheme, if they wanted to.
(Reporting by Sarah Young. Editing by Jane Merriman) ((sarah.young@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 1109; Reuters Messaging: sarah.young.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))
BA, owned by IAG
The change comes as BA's parent company IAG tries to cut costs at a time of increasing competition in the European short-haul market and will narrow the gap between flights offered by BA and its low-cost, no-frills rivals.
The airline said the switch to selling M&S food was driven by customer dissatisfaction with the its current short-haul economy catering.
"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," BA chief executive Alex Cruz said in the statement.
BA said it would sell an M&S Aberdeen Angus beef and red onion chutney bloomer for 4 pounds 75 pence, a hot bacon roll for the same price, plus other breakfast options, nuts, crisps and chocolates, and customers could pay using Avios points, part of a BA loyalty scheme, if they wanted to.
(Reporting by Sarah Young. Editing by Jane Merriman) ((sarah.young@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 1109; Reuters Messaging: sarah.young.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))
