Posted on: Saturday, December 18, 2004

Airline's flights here will charge for food

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Flying American Airlines next year?

Bring a few bucks — or your own snacks.

Starting Feb. 1, the nation's largest air carrier will stop its complimentary food service for coach customers on domestic flights longer than three hours, including those to and from Hawai'i, saving the struggling airline $30 million annually.

Instead, American Airlines will sell snack boxes for $3 and sandwiches or turkey wraps for $5.

While other airlines have stopped serving free food on some domestic routes, American appears to be the first to stop the service on its Hawai'i flights.

Drinks will still be served, and first-class passengers will still receive free meals.

Travel agents in Hawai'i aren't surprised by American Airlines' move to reduce costs. And they warn travelers to brace for more of the same from other airlines.

"I think we're going to see this trend continue, unfortunately," said Duke Ah Moo, vice president of operations at Pleasant Island Holidays. "Until airlines get into better shape financially, we'll continue to see more cuts."

Typically, airlines spend between $3 and $8 per person on food, Ah Moo said.

"Cutting that out becomes additional revenue for them," he said. "It's survival mode out there. Whatever they can do to cut costs, they'll do."

This latest cost-cutting move is part of a growing trend of air carriers slashing costs anywhere — from cutting jobs to stopping free food service — to stay profitable or, in many cases, to stave off bankruptcy. In total, the U.S. airline industry has accumulated $22 billion in losses since the downturn in 2001.

"(American Airlines) is trying this out and the others are waiting behind to see if it works," said Rachel Shimamoto, vice president of Travel Ways. "And if it does, they'll all do it, too."

America West launched the trend in January 2003. The service has been so successful that the carrier expanded its In-flight Cafe service this summer to all flights longer than three hours, selling breakfast snack boxes for $5.

ATA, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines are all selling meals on some flights, but they still offer free meals on flights to Hawai'i.

"It's an act of desperation," Ah Moo said. "But I think we've gotten accustomed to going no-frills now. That's why the low-cost carriers are doing much better than the major airlines. They cut out all the frills. The major carriers are trying to emulate that."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.