Economy passengers on British Airways can tuck into yum dishes by a celebrity chef

Food lovers traveling with British Airways (BA) now have a big reason to cheer as the UK’s national airline has teamed up with a Michelin-starred chef, a rating system used to grade restaurants on their quality, to put some zest into its in-flight economy meals.

Travelers flying short-haul economy class on British Airways can get set to tuck into dishes designed by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge which will be available on a ‘buy before you fly’ basis from a new ‘Speedbird Café’ service.

Choose from a yum menu!

Featuring a range of pies and sandwiches, it will be served on all BA’s Euro Traveler flights. On the menu is a host of British-inspired bites including steak pies, chicken, bacon and celery brioche and Ploughman’s cheddar sandwiches suitable for vegetarians. There’s also a spiced cauliflower tortilla wrap specially curated for vegan travelers.

Scones with clotted cream, blueberry muffins and hand-cooked potato chips are also on the menu for passengers looking for more of a snack.

“I am truly happy to be working with British Airways again, and to have the opportunity to champion the best of British to so many people. A sandwich, made with care and great flavors, can be a perfect meal and I hope the passengers enjoy my short haul menu,” said Mr. Kerridge. The chef previously worked with the airline to design its celebratory centenary menus in 2019.

In an effort to reduce waste, travelers will need to pre-order their meals before flying. This must happen 12 hours before flights departing the UK and 24 hours before flights coming from overseas. There can be no change of mind once you’re airborne.

Mr. Kerridge’s sandwich collection replaces food giant Marks & Spencer. The company previously supplied British Airways with its on-flight sandwiches. English chef Kerridge is the owner of several restaurants including the Hand and Flowers gastropub, the only pub in the UK with two Michelin stars.

British Airways’ new Speedbird Cafe menu is chargeable with prices starting at around $5.50 per sandwich. The airline will continue to offer complimentary refreshments to travelers, a move that it introduced in response to the global pandemic.

BA has also confirmed that it is ditching its policy of charging passengers for water and snacks such as crisps or cereal bars, something that the ex-BA chief executive Alex Cruz introduced in 2017 and which was met with howls of protest.

It is also set to reintroduce glassware and china on long-haul flights from January 20. Previously, BA was serving food in minimum-contact meal boxes to reduce interaction between crew and passengers. The Buy Before You Fly initiative will start later this month, even though hardly anyone is flying anywhere.