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ATLANTA, Georgia -- Delta Air Lines, along with many of its rivals, curtailed food service in 2001 to reduce costs as air travel plummeted.
Now, the airline is offering a new menu -- from Mediterranean chicken to New York cheesecake -- and hoping customers will pay for it.
Delta's new meals will cost up to $10 and will be tested on 400 flights over the next month. First-class customers and members of some frequent flier plans will eat free. The food could be offered on all flights if the test goes well.
The food probably won't turn much profit, if any, but will help placate customers who want to eat on their flight, Delta spokeswoman Catherine Stengel said. It also may help lure new business, as part of a wider effort to reverse losses.
Northwest Airlines, based in Eagan, Minn., has had a meals-for-sale program since January, and has now expanded the service to 64 flights, spokeswoman Mary Stanik said. The meals, ranging from $5 to $10, include breakfast breads and fruit, cold sandwiches and salads.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, is in preliminary talks with vendors about selling food at airport gates, spokesman Tim Wagner said.
"There's complexity that goes along with selling food on board flights," Wagner said. "We can have people purchase it, bring it on-board themselves. That gives them more choice."
US Airways and America West Airlines also sell food on some flights, while Continental has sought to tout the fact that it has not reduced food service as much as its competitors.
Still, analysts are skeptical food will do much for airline finances.
"People really aren't interested in food," said Ray Neidl, an analyst with Blaylock and Partners in New York. "It's just something that they're using to save money on meal service but still providing the customers who want it with a meal that's upgraded."
Delta's new menu options include a Mediterranean chicken sandwich for $8, a smoked turkey and pesto sandwich for $8 and a horseradish roast beef sub for $8.
The food will be offered on flights from Delta hubs at Atlanta, Dallas and Cincinnati to select markets from Saturday to Aug. 10.
One airline that won't sell food is discount carrier Southwest, one of the few airlines to remain profitable since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The customers have never said to us, 'We want to pay more for food,'" spokeswoman Linda Rutherford said. "Our philosophy has always been, `Have a low fare and then go have a $50 steak dinner when you get where you're going.'"
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[ QUOTE ]
The food probably won't turn much profit, if any, but will help placate customers who want to eat on their flight, Delta spokeswoman Catherine Stengel said.
[/ QUOTE ]
Leave it to airline management to come up with a decision that "probalby won't turn much profit, if any" at a time when they are screaming about losses and wanting their pilots to take a 22% paycut.
This world is beyond F-up'd.
Now, the airline is offering a new menu -- from Mediterranean chicken to New York cheesecake -- and hoping customers will pay for it.
Delta's new meals will cost up to $10 and will be tested on 400 flights over the next month. First-class customers and members of some frequent flier plans will eat free. The food could be offered on all flights if the test goes well.
The food probably won't turn much profit, if any, but will help placate customers who want to eat on their flight, Delta spokeswoman Catherine Stengel said. It also may help lure new business, as part of a wider effort to reverse losses.
Northwest Airlines, based in Eagan, Minn., has had a meals-for-sale program since January, and has now expanded the service to 64 flights, spokeswoman Mary Stanik said. The meals, ranging from $5 to $10, include breakfast breads and fruit, cold sandwiches and salads.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, is in preliminary talks with vendors about selling food at airport gates, spokesman Tim Wagner said.
"There's complexity that goes along with selling food on board flights," Wagner said. "We can have people purchase it, bring it on-board themselves. That gives them more choice."
US Airways and America West Airlines also sell food on some flights, while Continental has sought to tout the fact that it has not reduced food service as much as its competitors.
Still, analysts are skeptical food will do much for airline finances.
"People really aren't interested in food," said Ray Neidl, an analyst with Blaylock and Partners in New York. "It's just something that they're using to save money on meal service but still providing the customers who want it with a meal that's upgraded."
Delta's new menu options include a Mediterranean chicken sandwich for $8, a smoked turkey and pesto sandwich for $8 and a horseradish roast beef sub for $8.
The food will be offered on flights from Delta hubs at Atlanta, Dallas and Cincinnati to select markets from Saturday to Aug. 10.
One airline that won't sell food is discount carrier Southwest, one of the few airlines to remain profitable since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The customers have never said to us, 'We want to pay more for food,'" spokeswoman Linda Rutherford said. "Our philosophy has always been, `Have a low fare and then go have a $50 steak dinner when you get where you're going.'"
----------------------------------------
[ QUOTE ]
The food probably won't turn much profit, if any, but will help placate customers who want to eat on their flight, Delta spokeswoman Catherine Stengel said.
[/ QUOTE ]
Leave it to airline management to come up with a decision that "probalby won't turn much profit, if any" at a time when they are screaming about losses and wanting their pilots to take a 22% paycut.
This world is beyond F-up'd.
