BA cuts food in Shorthaul travel, takes one step closer to the race to the bottom

BA. The worlds cash-strapped airline seems to be going for broke on the savings front. As well as getting staff to work for nothing or on sabbatical, a pay cut from the flight deck of 2.6%, and of course WeeWhille working for nothing in July seems to be finally looking to its onboard product... and is promptly making cuts to food.

Now this has been mumuring around the net, but in basic terms

• EuroTraveller - No food for flights under 2.5 hours (Band 1, Band 2, Band 3A) Except for Breakfast, it's birdseed - I mean the skybites snacks.
  
• Club Europe - Cutbacks in food styles and Band 1 and 2 food styles merge. And don't expect warm towels. Coffee is now instant too.
  
• And there are changes in catering on World Traveller flights under 10 hours (hint - its a sandwich and watercuplet now), Club World has its 2nd meal service "enhanced" to a minimal size whilst increase the snack bar, and First alas has little changes here and there

Estimated to save £22 million, I'd say it's a fair wodge of cash - however, and this is a BIG however, BA differentiates itself as a FULL SERVICE AIRLINE to the RyanAirs, BMI's, etc. It's now making a turn that makes its European competitors look twice (Air France, Lufthansa, KLM to name three). In some cases, this could make the LCC's a lot more competitive as the differences are worn away.

The race to the bottom is one full service airlines can't get involved in - for the simple reason, with the diversity of the crews, airplane types, service contracts - they will only loose.

Lets hope this is a short term option and that BA can dig itself out of this hole.