The changes will begin on May 19 and will primarily impact short-haul flights
NEED TO KNOW
- Delta will stop offering food and drinks on hundreds of flights under 349 miles starting May 19
- Passengers on flights 350 miles and above will receive full beverage and snack service in most cabins
- The news comes amid major shifts in the airline industry, including the collapse of Spirit and an increase in fees and cancellations among major carriers due to surging fuel prices
Delta is removing all food and beverage service from 450 daily flights.
Beginning May 19, the U.S.-based airline will not offer in-flight meals, snacks, or drinks on hundreds of shorter flights, under 349 miles. The changes are expected to affect around 450 daily flights, including short routes like Los Angeles to San Francisco.
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“Beginning May 19, Delta is adjusting onboard beverage service to create a more consistent experience across our network. Customers traveling in Delta Comfort and Delta Main on flights 350 miles and above will now receive full beverage and snack service, while shorter flights will no longer offer food and beverage service—with the exception of Delta First which always receives full service," a Delta spokesperson told PEOPLE.
"Even on the small number of flights without beverage service, our crew will continue to be visible, available, and focused on caring for our customers, like they do on every flight.”
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Though passengers on the short flights will see a downgrade, those on flights 350 miles and above will now have access to the full beverage and snack menu.
Delta has not offered food or beverage service on flights under 250 miles since 2015, and the change from full to express service was introduced in 2017 for flights under 349 miles.
In response to the shuttering of budget airline Spirit over the weekend, Delta announced that it will be offering support to affected travelers and team members.
The airline says it will offer reduced, nonrefundable fares in affected markets over the next five days to help travelers book last-minute travel amid flight cancellations. The reduced fares are available to all customers, not just those impacted by Spirit's shutdown.
For Spirit's pilots and flight attendants, they will be able to access standby travel on Delta per existing agreements for the next 10 days. The airline also welcomed Spirit employees to apply for jobs with Delta.
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