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?
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.
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.