LONDON— British Airways (BA) has stepped in to support its joint venture partner American Airlines (AA) after the U.S. carrier faced a major catering disruption at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
The issue forced American Airlines (AA) to operate flights between the United States and London Heathrow (LHR) with “double catering,” loading food and supplies for both flight sectors from U.S. airports.
British Airways Helps American Airlines
American Airlines has struggled with a catering breakdown at London Heathrow for more than a week after problems emerged with its third-party catering contractor. Since around March 1, the airline has not been able to uplift food, beverages, or catering supplies locally at Heathrow.
As a temporary workaround, the carrier introduced double catering on flights departing the United States. This practice requires aircraft to carry catering for both the outbound and return journeys.
Double catering is uncommon on long-haul routes because aircraft galleys have limited storage space. The arrangement forced American Airlines to adjust onboard service procedures on its Heathrow departures.
London Heathrow represents one of the airline’s most important international hubs, with up to 19 daily flights connecting nine U.S. cities. Maintaining service quality on these premium transatlantic routes quickly became a priority for the airline.
Hygiene Concerns Triggered the Catering Disruption
American Airlines has not publicly confirmed the exact cause of the catering failure. However, industry reports suggest that hygiene issues were discovered at the kitchens operated by its third-party contractor.
One widely circulated image allegedly showed a dead rodent inside a Business Class bread basket on an American Airlines flight from London Heathrow. The airline has not verified the authenticity of the image, but it soon suspended local catering uplift afterward.
According to PYOK, the situation forced the airline to urgently seek operational support while investigating alternative catering arrangements at Heathrow.
Do&Co Catering Begins Supporting American Airlines
To help resolve the crisis, British Airways opened capacity within its own catering system to support American Airlines flights departing Heathrow.
British Airways has used the Austrian catering specialist Do&Co since 2019, when it replaced its long-term supplier Gate Gourmet. The company operates a major catering facility at Heathrow that handles thousands of meals daily for British Airways flights.
Integrating additional American Airlines flights into the operation required rapid adjustments because catering kitchens normally operate close to maximum capacity.
The first route to receive Do&Co catering support was the London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare service. Early reports from passengers and flight attendants suggest noticeable improvements in food quality compared with the temporary arrangements used during the disruption.
Gradual Return of Normal Onboard Services
American Airlines confirmed in an internal staff memo that teams are working to restore normal catering operations at Heathrow.
Locally catered Business Class meals have already begun returning on select flights departing London Heathrow. Premium Economy meal service has also resumed its normal format.
The airline expects full Business Class catering service to return by March 11. One exception remains the traditional ice cream dessert service, which British Airways does not normally provide in its own Business Class cabin.
Long-Term Catering Decisions Still Unclear
The temporary partnership with Do&Co could influence American Airlines’ long-term catering strategy at Heathrow. The airline is reportedly evaluating potential suppliers following the issues with its existing contractor.
Do&Co developed a premium dining concept for British Airways’ Club World Business Class in 2018. The concept initially included elaborate multi-course cart service, although several elements were later simplified.
Additional service reductions occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. While food quality has generally remained strong, some passengers have raised concerns about smaller portion sizes in recent years.
For now, the immediate priority for American Airlines remains stabilizing its Heathrow catering operations and restoring full onboard service across its transatlantic network.
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