It is not a fully fledged food fight just yet, but two US majors have begun experiments in in-flight catering that has garnered public attention: at a time when few flights offer anything more than peanuts and pretzels, they are charging for what they say is a better level of cuisine.
America West cut out almost all food service after 11 September, even on 5h flights. The airline, which aims to be a low-fares network carrier, began a trial in which it offers snacks, or full meals such as chicken Kiev, at prices ranging from $3-10. So far, from 8-50% of its passengers have bought food, depending on the time of day and the length of the flight.
Meanwhile, Northwest Airlines is undertaking a limited trial of selling in-flight food that it says is tastier and offers bigger portions. The carrier describes it as an experiment and says that it is in part driven by in-flight catering firms that have seen their business forced on to a crash diet. Northwest usually offers food service on just over 10% of its 1,500 daily departures.
Source: Airline Business
