{"id":141582,"date":"2026-05-04T05:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T23:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=141582"},"modified":"2026-05-04T01:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T19:42:58","slug":"american-airlines-crew-slam-heathrow-catering-fix-despite-premium-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/04\/american-airlines-crew-slam-heathrow-catering-fix-despite-premium-upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"American Airlines Crew Slam Heathrow Catering Fix Despite Premium Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FORT WORTH-<\/strong> American Airlines (AA)<\/a> flight attendants remain dissatisfied with the carrier’s revamped catering operations at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), despite the airline’s recent partnership with upscale Austrian caterer Do&Co.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA)<\/a>, representing over 20,000 crew members, says the changes have not resolved the increased workload caused by the abrupt departure from former catering partner Dnata earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since April 22, Do&Co has been catering all meals across every cabin on American Airlines (AA) flights departing Heathrow (LHR), ending the airline’s reliance on double provisioning from U.S. hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as reported by PYOK<\/a>, APFA maintains that crew members continue to face significant onboard strain, calling the arrangement a temporary fix rather than a permanent solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"American
Photo: dnata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

American Airlines Heathrow Catering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

American Airlines severed its long-standing contract with Dnata in early March 2025. Dnata is the ground operations company of the Emirates Group<\/a>, which is owned by the government of Dubai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The split happened so abruptly that the airline did not even have time to begin searching for another supplier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With no local kitchen to cater its flights in London, American Airlines resorted to double provisioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under this arrangement, all food, beverages, and galley equipment required for both outbound and return transatlantic flights were loaded onboard at U.S. departure points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This practice placed extreme pressure on galley space. Even on a large widebody aircraft, galley space is tight and not designed to accommodate everything required for two long-haul transatlantic services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flight attendants had to manage a completely different onboard setup from what they were accustomed to, with very little training to handle the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APFA responded by demanding a significant pay premium for crew members assigned to London routes. American Airlines has not yet settled that demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"American
Photo: NBC News<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do&Co Contract Brings Relief but Not Full Resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The arrival of Do&Co as a temporary catering partner eliminated the need for double provisioning and restored locally sourced meal service at Heathrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From American Airlines’ perspective, the carrier has done well to massively overhaul its catering proposition at Heathrow by signing a temporary contract with the upscale partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passengers have reportedly responded well to the quality of Do&Co’s catering. However, APFA notes that the Do&Co arrangement still requires flight attendants to perform tasks beyond their normal scope on a long-haul flight to any other international premium destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one instance, crew members were asked to remove trash from catering carts so that cleaning teams in London could collect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The union flagged this as a violation of the flight attendant contract, and the practice has since been stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“While management continues to frame this as progress, these adjustments remain temporary fixes to a prolonged operational failure that has significantly increased our members’ workload,” APFA communicated to its members this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The union pledged to continue monitoring implementation closely and push for a permanent, reliable solution along with accountability for the sustained impact on crews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"American
Photo: JFK Spotting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Long-Term Catering Partner Still Undecided<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

American Airlines is actively searching for a permanent catering provider at Heathrow (LHR)<\/a>. Do&Co’s current contract is temporary, and it remains to be seen whether the Austrian catering company will retain its contract with the airline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do&Co faces competition from other kitchens that operate out of the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason behind American Airlines’ sudden split with Dnata<\/a> has not been officially disclosed. Reports have pointed to significant health and safety concerns as a possible factor behind the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until a long-term deal is finalized, flight attendants on London routes will continue operating under interim arrangements that APFA considers inadequate for the demands of premium transatlantic service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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American Airlines Plans Summer Fix for Broken Seats and Cabin Issues<\/a><\/blockquote>