Delta revives menu — for sale on the side

By Harry R. Weber
Associated Press

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines, along with many 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, to cost as much as $10, will be tested on 400 flights in the next month. First-class customers and some frequent-flier plan members will eat free. The food could be offered on all flights if the test goes well.

The food probably won't turn much profit, but may help placate customers who want meals on their flights, said Delta spokeswoman Catherine Stengel.

Northwest Airlines, based in Eagan, Minn., has offered meals for sale since January, and has expanded the service to 64 flights, said spokeswoman Mary Stanik. The meals cost from $5 to $10, and 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, said spokes-man Tim Wagner.

"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.

Analysts are skeptical food will do much for airline finances.

"The customers have never said to us, 'We want to pay more for food,' " said Southwest spokeswoman Linda Rutherford.

"Our philosophy has always been, 'Have a low fare and then go have a $50 steak dinner when you get where you're going.' "