FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) has selected Austrian catering company DO & CO Aktiengesellschaft as its permanent caterer at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), ending 5 months of stopgap arrangements at the carrier’s largest international outstation.
The appointment restores a full onboard menu for services departing from Heathrow to the United States. DO & CO already supplies British Airways (BA) and Turkish Airlines (TK), and now adds the oneworld carrier at an airport linking London with 9 year-round American destinations, including Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and New York JFK (JFK).
American Airlines Picks DO & CO as Permanent Caterer
American was forced to adjust its catering operations at London Heathrow (LHR) in February after mice were allegedly discovered in food preparation areas at its previous caterer, dnata.
Independent audits of the facility confirmed that it met all food hygiene and safety requirements.
DO & CO had already been catering several American services from Heathrow on a temporary basis before being named the airline’s permanent solution.
The appointment will support American’s expansive international operations at Britain’s busiest airport, as reported by Simple Flying.
Following the abrupt decision to seek alternative catering in February, passengers on American flights departing Heathrow faced several changes designed to ensure food safety regulations were met on US-bound services.
The initial response to the rodent revelation saw American double-provision flights from the United States to cover the return leg. That approach resulted in a slimmed-down onboard menu carrying only essential food stocks.
The temporary changes included:
- Preordered meals withdrawn from the service
- Seafood removed from the menu
- Ice cream removed from onboard service
- Removed items substituted for other easier options
- Vegetarian choices retained throughout the period
New Catering Contract Timeline
Aviation insider JonNYC shared on X that the full transition to DO & CO could take up to four months to complete.
New catering trucks are set to arrive at Heathrow by late August or September to begin that process.
DO & CO Adds American Airlines As Its Latest Partner
DO & CO has supplied Austrian Airlines (OS) and Turkish Airlines for almost 2 decades, with both relationships dating back to 2007. The Turkish operation runs through a joint venture, Turkish DO & CO, which has supplied meals to Turkish Airlines flights and lounges since that year.
The caterer extended beyond aviation in 2012, when it began supplying meals served on ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways. British Airways has been supplied by DO & CO since 2018.
According to DO & CO, the caterer works with more than 60 airline partners. That list includes Aeromexico, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Southern, Delta Air Lines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Finnair, Gulf Air, Hainan Airlines, Iberia, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
American Airlines Destinations Served From Heathrow
American operates multiple daily flights from Heathrow to nine year-round destinations, with an additional seasonal service to Phoenix in the Northern Hemisphere summer season.
| Destination | IATA Code | Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | BOS | Boston Logan International Airport |
| Charlotte | CLT | Charlotte Douglas International Airport |
| Chicago O’Hare | ORD | Chicago O’Hare International Airport |
| Dallas/Fort Worth | DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport |
| Los Angeles | LAX | Los Angeles International Airport |
| Miami | MIA | Miami International Airport |
| New York JFK | JFK | New York JFK Airport |
| Philadelphia | PHL | Philadelphia International Airport |
| Raleigh-Durham | RDU | Raleigh-Durham International Airport |
| Phoenix (seasonal) | PHX | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport |
Inside Airline Catering Process
DO & CO states that it works with customized onboard menus planned and designed to fit every market and price bracket. The caterer adapts to the philosophy of each carrier, and its concepts are curated and individually designed on an ongoing basis.
In full operation, airline meals are partially cooked through mass-production ground processing facilities. The dishes are then rapidly chilled and supplied with exact onboard reheating instructions.
Meals are usually developed to account for altered taste perceptions that can be experienced at high altitudes.
American’s decision to permanently use DO & CO for all departing flights at Heathrow brings an end to almost five months of stopgaps, as a full onboard menu returns to its transatlantic services.
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