Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge has designed sandwiches and pies for British Airways short-haul economy flights.
A new Speedbird Cafe will offer the option to pre-order in-flight food up to 12 hours before departure at a cost of between £4.10 and £4.50, replacing previous options provided by Marks & Spencer.
Dishes designed by Kerridge include steak and ale pie, ham hock and smoked cheddar sandwich, vegan spiced cauliflower tortilla wrap and vegetarian brie ploughman’s sandwich.
The airline will also be moving to the next phase of its on-board catering in Club Europe and long-haul flights from January 20, following the temporary introduction of minimum-contact meal boxes to keep passengers safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Caterers Do&Co have been involved in developing new menus as well as adapting the meal service to reintroduce china and glassware.
BA will also be introducing another BrewDog IPA called JetStream following on from a limited edition Speedbird 100 beer.
The carrier will also continue to offer free refreshments in Euro Traveller on all fights comprising a bottle of water and a snack, such as a breakfast bar or crisps.
The move is part of a renewed focus on the short-haul customer experience, which also includes the completion of a full Wi-Fi introduction across the short-haul Airbus fleet and the ability to pre-order duty free items directly to passengers’ seats through its inflight retail site, Highlifeshop.com.
Brand and customer experience director Carolina Martinoli said: “Over the last few months we know that our customers have valued the complimentary refreshments offered, so they’re here to stay.
“But in addition, we also wanted to offer more choice and the ability to buy something more substantial.
“After a successful partnership with M&S, we have teamed up with another British favourite, chef Tom Kerridge.
“Our expert teams have worked closely with Tom to create delicious British staples for our short haul menu.
“We know how popular the menus that Tom designed for our centenary were with our customers, so we are delighted to be working with him again and can’t wait for our customers to experience his fantastic new food at 35,000ft.”
Kerridge added: “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 flavours, can be a perfect meal and I hope the passengers enjoy my short-haul menu.”