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?
Who genuinely gives a flying f***?
Get a grip, no one cares.
Wow, I didn’t expect British Airways to do this! I guess it makes sense that they want to make it easier for the crew to serve passengers, but it really feels like they are just trying to save money. I know a lot of people love a hot breakfast on short flights, especially the full English breakfast, so I can see why some passengers will be upset.
On the other hand, I don’t mind the...
Wow, I didn’t expect British Airways to do this! I guess it makes sense that they want to make it easier for the crew to serve passengers, but it really feels like they are just trying to save money. I know a lot of people love a hot breakfast on short flights, especially the full English breakfast, so I can see why some passengers will be upset.
On the other hand, I don’t mind the change. Fruit, yogurt, and a pastry are fine for a short flight, and I guess it’s not a huge deal if the flight is only an hour long. Still, it’s kind of sad that British Airways is losing something that made them special compared to other airlines.
What do you think would you miss the hot breakfast or is a fruit plate enough?
I presume that this change will backfire and BA will have to once again backtrack, and reinstall the hot breakfast option. It is such a cultural thing that I don't think BA can get away with it.
Surely people want healthier food but the current cheapest store brand yogurt, and cheap pastry will not work. If BA wants to show that it is not a cost-cutting effort, they can inform passengers a full sized...
I presume that this change will backfire and BA will have to once again backtrack, and reinstall the hot breakfast option. It is such a cultural thing that I don't think BA can get away with it.
Surely people want healthier food but the current cheapest store brand yogurt, and cheap pastry will not work. If BA wants to show that it is not a cost-cutting effort, they can inform passengers a full sized fruit plate will be offered along with either fresh yogurt or yogurt from a new high end brand (plenty of organic UK brands), and the warmed breakfast pastries will be larger in size, and there will be second runs of pastries if times permit.
BA continues to seek to be the lowest of the lowest. What a sad thing to see when Cruz truly destroys a good airline. It is such a tale of Greed of Modern Capitalism.
Nothing says premium like nutigrain bars
Well done BA you have hit bottom at last
There is a genuine logic here.
If you fly to MAN, your flight time is approximately 45 minutes, 35-40 realistically. Take 10 minutes each side for securing the cabin, and crew being able to move around, you have 25 minutes max to serve.
On smaller 319 airplanes, with 3 rows of Club, you can easily do a hot breakfast. On the 320/321s where you can have up to 12 rows of Club, they struggle to effectively get past row 6.
Just another example of taking away and trying to spin things. Prices of the ticket won't go down. BA has been trash for quite sometime. I fly a lot internationally for my job yearly and 100% avoid BA for anything.
Well, it makes a lot of sense. BA are very insightful. Their proactive approach here is reflective of the top class talent they employ to run the world’s best airline. Ensuring the cabin crew have a lot more time to spend in the cabin with passengers… bravo!….. not a minute of that time will be wasted as they answer all the J passengers questions about what happened to the English breakfast. .
It wasn’t that long ago that you would be served a hot meal, alcohol and given a newspaper in economy on short haul domestic flights out of Heathrow.
Then BA were allowed to purchase their main competitor British Midland.
I use the NCL to LHR flight quite regularly and this makes total sense. The flight is too short for a full English.
It impresses me the crew have time to serve drinks and snacks.
These BA flights are really good and the internal ones are often cheaper in economy than the equivalent train even if not city centre to city centre (not the issue it was with opening of the Elizabeth line)
Meanwhile, over at Delta:
‘Let them eat Biscoff.’
As someone who hates eggs and finds the smell and look of them repulsive, I am delighted!
So long as European people care more about status than actual hard and soft product, airlines will continue this and to be honest I am with airlines on this one. They are there to make money. If consumers vote with their wallet, they can get better product/service like in the South East Asia where you have far superior hard and soft product in premium class.
I personally never pay for business class intra-Europe because to...
So long as European people care more about status than actual hard and soft product, airlines will continue this and to be honest I am with airlines on this one. They are there to make money. If consumers vote with their wallet, they can get better product/service like in the South East Asia where you have far superior hard and soft product in premium class.
I personally never pay for business class intra-Europe because to me it is just not worth it, especially with status that gets me extra legroom seat and luggage etc. Long haul is different and there are intercontinental competition so I feel it is worth to spend my money on premium classes. Even there I can see Asian airlines like ANA/JAL/Cathay/ME3 commanding fare premium as they offer much better product and service. European airlines often have to price the Business class at lower except a select few non stop routes.
I recently flew LAX-LHR-BCN in business are was horrified to be put in a non-reclining 28” seat pitch seat after a long redeye. Not what you’d call premium.
Welcome to all major European business classes
KL and LH are even worse intra Europe in my opinion
Personally I find this much better than the old service. I was actively avoiding BA CE flights in the morning because they never had a "normal breakfast" available, all three options were lunch-style (even the supposed continental one which ended up being a tonload of meat). That being said, I understand that Brits like it this way so it's clearly gonna be disappointing for many.
I think BA should introduce this new service on most...
Personally I find this much better than the old service. I was actively avoiding BA CE flights in the morning because they never had a "normal breakfast" available, all three options were lunch-style (even the supposed continental one which ended up being a tonload of meat). That being said, I understand that Brits like it this way so it's clearly gonna be disappointing for many.
I think BA should introduce this new service on most ex-EU departures (where very few people wish to have lunch at 7 AM), while keeping the old service on ex-UK departures. That would save even more money and keep everyone happy.
Another example of BA kowtowing to the zionist lobby. First axing the Louis Theroux sponsorship. Now axing Bacon and non Kosher breakfast.
Obvious who call the shots in Keir Starver's Britain.
Moron. Wtf has it to do with Israel. They are short flights and by the time service has started they have to get ready for arrival. Nothing wrong with a light healthier breakfast.
BZ, the only thing which the likes of your sort of Hamas apologists bring to OMAAT, is clicks. Clicks which Ben, can convert into flights, giving the real readers flight reviews by which to further their own commercial aviation knowledge base.
We already know everything necessary to have formed an accurate understanding of your delusional mentality. We pity your gross ignorance of the history of the Holy Land. Your blind belief in the Hamas...
BZ, the only thing which the likes of your sort of Hamas apologists bring to OMAAT, is clicks. Clicks which Ben, can convert into flights, giving the real readers flight reviews by which to further their own commercial aviation knowledge base.
We already know everything necessary to have formed an accurate understanding of your delusional mentality. We pity your gross ignorance of the history of the Holy Land. Your blind belief in the Hamas terrorist cause. Furthermore, we fully understand that you are nothing less than a born again Nazi, who would like nothing more than to see all Jews exposed to another holocaust, yes?
Oh look
It’s aero’s guest account
Our “UK” friend that never seems to be on UK time
Get a grip, loser, and a better backstory
Did you forget to run your lines through ChatGPT to create your weird non-native speaker “, yes?” At the end of the sentence?
BZ’s post was stupid and ill informed, but that’s basically every aero post, guest or diamond.
…. and a Happy New Year to you too Julie darlink. I am really flattered to be your No.1 OMAAT obsession.
Ben, will undoubtedly be pleased with you too, that is, for generating more clicks for his points tally.
BA was forced to serve hot breakfasts on ultra short haul domestic routes when its competitor in the 1980s, British Midland airways offered it vs BA’s no frills shuttle experience resulting in BA losing a significant number of its customers. BA subsequently acquired BMI, the successor to British Midland, and without any competition, its inevitable hot breakfasts would be cut, most likely to reduced costs. In fairness, the flight times are pretty short and crew...
BA was forced to serve hot breakfasts on ultra short haul domestic routes when its competitor in the 1980s, British Midland airways offered it vs BA’s no frills shuttle experience resulting in BA losing a significant number of its customers. BA subsequently acquired BMI, the successor to British Midland, and without any competition, its inevitable hot breakfasts would be cut, most likely to reduced costs. In fairness, the flight times are pretty short and crew are runoff their feet, and customers are also able to get a hot breakfast in the lounge prior to flying which is possible now given the hour check-in cut off time before departure vs the much shorter cut off times in the past.
Many of the OMAAT reader’s comments do not stack up in regard to the majority of food related articles appertaining to any airline. Many forget that a passenger can spend more time on the ground, in the terminal, than they do actually flying. This is especially pertinent with UK internal and near EU flights.
As if this has anything to do with spending time in the cabin. Early morning, I like many rely on the cooked breakfast on the flight because it means I don’t have to have it at home or in the lounge. This change is just marketing gobbledygook to disguise shortchanging customers. Prices will not drop but service does. It was ever thus. The only thing to do is resist vocally , repeatedly and to vote with your wallet.
BA (and the competitor it acquired years ago, British Midland) used to serve a hot breakfast to ALL customers, not just business class, on even short domestic routes. Currently that service is only offered to passengers in the business cabin. So the time constraints argument does not hold.
The computer has given me two possibilities. During The Reckoning, BA's customers will either "suffer horribly" or "eat fruit".
Lets not pretend. This is another BA cost cutting exercise their continued race to the bottom. When do the crew ever interact with passengers on any of their short haul routes. More time to stand and chat with each other in the galley.
Ever the optimist I would like BA to improve their standards. I can then return to using them as my airline of choice rather than last resort.
First time commenter here. Just came to say bravo on the Star Trek Deep Space 9 reference.
I feel like a hot meal, even a simple one, on a short route has a great premium perk feel to it. Seems silly to remove that, since the cleanup time isn't being reduced... Morning fliers (especially making connections) often don't have time for the lounge, so being able to eat a light meal in-flight is really nice. I'd prefer it be hot.
Agree. If you want the hot breakfast eat in the lounge ahead of time. Since the others do not offer this then there is an easy way to cut it and I don't think people paid for BA just because of this.
As a frequent user of the LHR-MAN route the average time in the air is 30-35 minutes which only leaves 20 minutes at most for the meal to be served, eaten and cleared. Makes no sense to serve a hot meal on this route
It’s funny because they used to be able to manage to get a hot breakfast to everyone, including those in economy, on short hop domestic flights when I first started flying with them…
Giving crew more time with passengers? Since when have they done that? That sounds like a skit from the comedy TV show Come Fly with Me.
I always preferred the onboard breakfast over the (most recent) lounge breakfast offerings.
Other than the self pour bar.
The example photo you posted is not directly comparable to the in-flight meal BA actually tested last September on the Heathrow-Edinburgh route, which was of a trial format. The meal consisted of yoghurt, bread and fruit.
Cold cuts? Cheese? It is my understanding that none of that existed.
Based on the information we have so far, it seems that the in-flight meal that will be available soon will be similar to the one that...
The example photo you posted is not directly comparable to the in-flight meal BA actually tested last September on the Heathrow-Edinburgh route, which was of a trial format. The meal consisted of yoghurt, bread and fruit.
Cold cuts? Cheese? It is my understanding that none of that existed.
Based on the information we have so far, it seems that the in-flight meal that will be available soon will be similar to the one that was tested last September.
It might be interesting to consider offering cold cuts like salad, as they do during lunch or dinner hours on the same route. I have already had the opportunity to sample the food they have tested, and I am not sure what to expect.
I am not sympathetic. These are really brief flights for heavens sake. Back along time ago...PSA Pacific Southwest Airlines served a large well catered cold meal on longer flights like SF Bay area to PDX & SEA and to SAN, PHX, LAS. When USAir bought them US decided to serve hot meals on these flights. It did not go over well; the poor legacy PSA crews where never trained in hot meal services and pax preferred the much better cold meals.
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".
oh i've actually thought that a lot, delta FAs for example hide in the galley to avoid service requests, as do many other airline FAs. (that said, this will just allow BA FAs to similarly hide in the galley and sink to delta-esque levels!
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.
Don't fret, you didn't miss out on a hot breakfast.
And BA is not alone in not serving a hot breakfast before landing nor not catering to 100% on short night sectors.
9 hours prior? The sector time between SIN & SYD is normally just shy of 7hrs.
BA15 provides a three course dinner after take off. Qantas QF2 provides a two course 'supper'.
Then before landing, a light breakfast is served on both...
Don't fret, you didn't miss out on a hot breakfast.
And BA is not alone in not serving a hot breakfast before landing nor not catering to 100% on short night sectors.
9 hours prior? The sector time between SIN & SYD is normally just shy of 7hrs.
BA15 provides a three course dinner after take off. Qantas QF2 provides a two course 'supper'.
Then before landing, a light breakfast is served on both carriers - no hot element just some fruit yoghurt and a hot pastry.
I am unsure why the BA crew could not have found you a fruit plate. They have First on the route which I can pretty much guarantee had a lot let over.
This is pretty much in line with most carriers overnight flights of a duration of about 7hr.
Both carriers provide a menu before take off also which describes what is on offer.
If Jane slept for 9 hours on a 7 hour flight, then the plane was already on the ground and it’s no surprise the crew didn’t want to feed her :)
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.
There's no BA lounge at MAN, and no guarantee that the passenger will have enough time to eat before their connecting flight or, worse still, meeting in central London.
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.
It was perfectly feasible in the past and you’re assuming that lounges are available or open. A competitive advantage has now been eliminated by the owner of the advantage. And if the cold breakfast is anything like the one they trialled it will be a couple of bits of melon, half a strawberry and a piece of bread - heated in the same oven with the same procedure as cooking breakfast - and that’s your lot. Nonsense.
There are several lounges at Heathrow including an arrivals lounge. All of the affected routes have lounges at the departure too. The warm bread (pastry actually) is heated for 5 minutes. Not 20-30 like the hot breakfast.
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...
Have you actually tried the breakfast served in an Aspire lounge in the UK?
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.