British Airways will soon be rolling out a change that will no doubt be controversial with those who like their traditional English breakfast…
In this post:
British Airways simplifies Club Europe breakfast service
As of January 7, 2026, British Airways will be modifying the breakfast service on many of its short flights within Europe, for those traveling in the carrier’s Club Europe business class.
Currently, the airline typically offers two or three hot options, but that will no longer be the case across the board. Under the new policy, the airline will instead simply have one option on select routes — a fruit plate, yogurt, and a heated pastry.
This policy will apply on flights to and from Amsterdam (AMS), Belfast (BHD), Brussels (BRU), Dublin (DUB), Jersey (JER), Manchester (MAN), Newcastle (NCL), and Paris (CDG). All other routes will continue to receive a full hot breakfast.
British Airways claims that it’s making this change in order to make it easier for crews to deliver meals to passengers, and to give them “more time in the cabin with customers.”
My take on British Airways’ breakfast policy change
I’ve always been impressed by how British Airways crews serve full hot breakfasts on short haul flights within Europe. Many of these routes have a flight time of just 45-60 minutes, and they’re flights where a US airline might not even serve a round of drinks to premium cabin passengers (let alone serving any amount of food, perhaps aside from packaged nuts).
For that matter, most European rivals (like Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS, etc.) don’t serve hot breakfasts on flights of this length. So if anything, British Airways is simply eliminating a competitive advantage, rather than leading the race to the bottom.
Then again, Brits care a lot more about a hot breakfast than people from France, Germany, etc., where a cold breakfast is the norm. Personally, as someone who doesn’t eat pork, I’m actually happy to see this change, since I never liked the full English breakfast. But I fully acknowledge that’s a “me” situation, and most people will disagree (and the airline should cater to most guests, and not to me).
Now, what’s British Airways’ real motivation for this change? Is it really so that the crew can spend more time in the cabin with customers? We have to be honest with ourselves, as it’s pretty clear what’s going on here — this is presumably about cost savings rather than anything else.
I’m not trying to be a cynic, but British Airways has a track record of this kind of stuff. I mean, this is the same airline that tried to extend the hours of brunch and supper on long haul flights, in order to serve less and cheaper food and save money. The airline did eventually backtrack there.
Bottom line
As of January 7, 2026, British Airways will be cutting hot breakfast on eight of its shortest and highest frequency routes. With this change, passengers will instead be offered fruit, yogurt, and a pastry. The airline claims this is being done to simplify service for the crew, and to allow them to spend more time in the cabin.
In fairness, British Airways did have the most extensive breakfast selection on flights of this length. That was presumably because Brits also expect a bit more from breakfast than those from some other countries in the region. I have no doubt that this change is being driven by an attempt to cut costs, given the airline we’re talking about.
What do you make of British Airways’ short haul breakfast changes?
Yes, I can just think of the many times I've been on a flight and thought, "if only the crew would spend more time with us in the cabin".
Typical modern day British mentality. Charge extra high prices, only to short change passengers in return by cost cutting. I miss the pre-2016 BA before Cruz and Walsh unleashed a kamikaze campaign to destroy what made Britain's flag carrier unique.
Ha, as a OW Emerald, I recently flew Singapore to Sydney business class on BA and by the time I awoke, there was no breakfast available! I was told that they only loaded for 80% which. seems ridiculous when the plane was at capacity in all classes!! Worse, I had boarded and gone straight to sleep without a drink or meal 9 hours prior, so was absolutely starving even for a sub standard BA breakfast!...
Ha, as a OW Emerald, I recently flew Singapore to Sydney business class on BA and by the time I awoke, there was no breakfast available! I was told that they only loaded for 80% which. seems ridiculous when the plane was at capacity in all classes!! Worse, I had boarded and gone straight to sleep without a drink or meal 9 hours prior, so was absolutely starving even for a sub standard BA breakfast! At the price of J flights in and out of Australia it is outrageous this happens so I would have been very happy with that little European fruit plate!!! I normally don't fly BA but there was no availability on any other airline, definitely won't be doing it again.
The way this breakfast looks, there isn't much lost here.
The in-flight meal pictured is not the actual meal served by BA.
I flew several times last September when BA was trialling that policy on the Heathrow-Edinburgh route, and it was just yoghurt, fruit, and a piece of bread. There weren't even any cold cuts.
Chill out folks. If you want a ‘full English’ eat in the BA lounge instead and take your time. Better then a rushed service onboard.
Although there maybe some cost cutting it is primarily as they say to allow cabin crew to spend more time with passengers. In fairness these express routes as they are know can have a service time of as little as 20-30 minutes, and do not have hot food at any other time of day. It really isn’t practical to serve several different options especially hot meals to what can be up to 50 club passengers...
Although there maybe some cost cutting it is primarily as they say to allow cabin crew to spend more time with passengers. In fairness these express routes as they are know can have a service time of as little as 20-30 minutes, and do not have hot food at any other time of day. It really isn’t practical to serve several different options especially hot meals to what can be up to 50 club passengers in that time. The crew after all are primarily there for safety a security first and will have these tasks to see to as well, such as securing the cabin and galley etc. I’m sure most people would rather have a little longer than 5 minutes to down a champagne, coffee and inhale a full English, which is basically what you get. Less options/cold options only mean quicker service and more time to enjoy your food and drinks. If anyone is desperate for a hot breakfast they can still get this in the lounge before or after the flight.
Honestly, I may sound like a BA apologist, but these flights are so short, it always struck me as impractical to try and eat a hot meal on the plane for routes like this. Let's not forget that breakfast is also served in the lounges, including business class lounges.
There are plenty of fair criticisms of BA's cost cutting, but having just recently flown Air France in long haul on their 'old' A350 layout, I...
Honestly, I may sound like a BA apologist, but these flights are so short, it always struck me as impractical to try and eat a hot meal on the plane for routes like this. Let's not forget that breakfast is also served in the lounges, including business class lounges.
There are plenty of fair criticisms of BA's cost cutting, but having just recently flown Air France in long haul on their 'old' A350 layout, I would say BA offers a far better onboard experience on most aircraft, and remarkably, a much better transfer experience at LHR also, as compared to the disaster that is CDG.
Cutting hot meals on flights that are 45 mins or less does not ruin anyone's experience.
Let's not even discuss LH, and how incredibly poor their business class experience is both short and long-haul...
Ben, you don’t eat pork yet have pig in your last name….
More like “spending more time in the galley nattering too loudly about something inane.”
Anyone that has one of these flights, issue a complaint and once they notice how many 10,000 avios theyre having to hand out and that its costing them money, it'll get quietly reversed.
What really irritates me with this is how they come out with bullsh*t like 'give cabin crew more time with customers'.
Absolute second rate airline.
I noticed not on London Heathrow to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
What about BA Cityflyer from London City?
They still serve Beef Wellington and Chateau Margaux.
As it is a separate company, it does not apply.
They attempted this in September this year on the London to Edinburgh routes, but faced such a huge complaint that it was halted.
This was tested on the London-Edinburgh route in September this year (it's still 2025 here), but it was scrapped due to massive complaints.
Frankly, I expect it will be withdrawn eventually...
I simply cannot understand why they're pushing through a policy that was scrapped on other routes due to massive complaints... It's the exact same routine as Brunchgate...
Those are some very short flights. I don’t care at all about this change.
Yup, me either.
This won't affect my travel habits at all. I almost never eat meat for breakfast anyway. A nice pastry, yogurt, and fruit (as long as it's not all melon!) works fine for me.
But, you are all correct that this is about cost cutting and not much else.
I hate yogurt, so this is definitely a downgrade for me.
Yet another reason for BA loyalists to switch to Air France. Sure, AF doesn't serve a hot menu but they service between LHR and CDG is incredible.
I’m surprised this is not presented as the typical BA “enhancement based on customer feedback” which is their usual fake explanation.
“spending more time with customers” sounds like total rubbish.
"More time in the cabin with customers". That's a good one.
More cheaping out by BA. The Willie Walsh legacy continues.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these routes have cold food for the other (non breakfast) meals.
I'm the first to call BA out for cost cutting, but when you sometimes have 13 rows + of Club Europe (50 pax), a cold breakfast and round of drinks actually kind of seems reasonable for the flights under an hour.
It wasn't that long ago BA filled high density Boeing 757s (around 200 seats) and offered a hot breakfast to all passengers.. A hot breakfast is a British classic.. whereas it is not typical in other European countries. If it wasn't about cost cutting then cold premium options could be offered -smoked salmon or ham with boiled eggs for example. It will be interesting to see how this plays out...
Blasphemy - this is not to give the cabin crew more time to spend in the cabin.
It's a cost cut.
Expect a loud and furious response from the loyal premium fliers on these routes who expect a proper British breakfast on offer.
Just fly Ryanair.
Cheaper by hundreds and more/equal legroom than BA J
If you are transiting at LHR after flying in from North America on BA, Ryanair is not an option--or at least not an easy or convenient one. Ditto for the trip home.