A BA cabin crew member holds up the new M&S menu — ‘Chicken or beef … oops, we meant Aberdeen Angus and red onion chutney bloomer or classic cheese ploughmans? Photograph: BA

British Airways ditches free meals on short-haul flights for M&S food

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Economy class passengers will now have to pay for snacks, but business fliers will retain complimentary menu

British Airways economy class passengers on short-haul flights will soon have to pay for sandwiches supplied by Marks & Spencer if they want a meal in mid-air.

The airline has signed a deal with M&S that will see it replace free meals on flights of less than five hours and join no-frills rivals such as Ryanair and easyJet in charging for sandwiches, crisps and drinks.

Previously, economy class passengers could expect a small snack, such as a bacon sandwich, and a complimentary drink.

Passengers in Club Europe – the airline’s short-haul business class service – will continue to enjoy a complimentary menu, which is being improved and revamped.

The decision to jettison free food from economy class comes six months after Alex Cruz took over as British Airways chief executive, having previously run its low-cost Spanish sister airline Vueling. Cruz said the change was a response to passengers clamouring for greater choice of upmarket snacks.

An M&S Aberdeen Angus beef bloomer — The M&S Aberdeen Angus beef bloomer will be included in BA’s in-flight menu, for £7.55 with crisps and water. Photograph: Alamy

“We know our customers expect a great experience with British Airways,” he said. “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.”

The M&S menu includes some of the retailer’s best-known offerings such as the Aberdeen Angus beef and red onion chutney bloomer and packets of Percy Pig sweets.

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.”

He backed BA’s decision to replace free meals with a wider choice offered at a cost. “Some people are in uproar, asking how BA can ditch food on short haul, but unless you were on club or business class, you were only getting half a sandwich and one drink.

“I’ve always thought I’d much rather have the option to pay for quality rather than accept free food that is just one mouthful.”

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BA released a sample menu comparing its prices favourably with the prices charged by easyJet, Ryanair and Norwegian. A sample meal of the Aberdeen Angus bloomer, a packet of crisps and a bottle of water will cost £7.55, rising to £10.25 if the water is replaced with a quarter bottle of wine.

Cruz said the menu, which will change with the seasons, “breaks the mould and sets a new standard in short-haul catering”. He added that anyone with the airline’s Avios points, earned as a member of BA’s executive club group, would be able to use them to pay for meals.

The new menu will start from 11 January next year for passengers flying from Heathrow and Gatwick, while anyone departing from Stansted or London City will still get a snack free of charge until summer 2017.

Changes to meals are part of a series of adjustments to BA’s short-haul services, including new interiors and a simplification of its fare structure to just three options.