British Airways has announced a significant change to its in-flight dining for business class passengers on some of its shortest European routes. From 7 January 2026, the airline will cease offering a traditional cooked breakfast in its Club Europe cabin on selected express services.
What's Changing on BA's Breakfast Menu?
The carrier will alter its morning meal service on a specific set of high-frequency, short-duration flights. Until now, passengers in the business class cabin could typically choose from two or three hot options, such as a full British breakfast. The new policy will see this replaced by a single continental offering consisting of a fruit plate, yoghurt, and a pastry.
This change will apply to flights to and from several key destinations, including Amsterdam, Belfast, Brussels, Dublin, Jersey, Manchester, Newcastle, and Paris. These are among the airline's shortest European hops, with several routes having total flight times of around an hour and spending as little as 35 minutes in the air.
BA's Rationale: Service Over Scrambled Eggs
According to the airline, the decision is not a cost-cutting measure but is intended to enhance the overall customer experience. British Airways stated that, following successful trials in September, it found the limited time available on these brief journeys made serving and enjoying a hot breakfast challenging for both crew and passengers.
A spokesperson explained: 'To ensure a more comfortable experience, we’ll now offer a continental breakfast on these routes. Hot breakfast will continue to be available on the vast majority of our short-haul flights.' The airline insists that offering a simpler continental option allows cabin crew 'more time in the cabin with customers' to deliver a more consistent and attentive service.
Limited Impact and Passenger Feedback
BA has moved to reassure travellers that the impact of this change is limited in scope. The adjustment affects only eight of the airline's express flights, and the Full English breakfast will remain unchanged on all other short-haul destinations.
The carrier added that feedback from both customers and crew during the trial suggested that the crew were unable to deliver the best possible service when factoring in the time required to heat and serve a hot meal on such short sectors. The continental option, they claim, received positive feedback during the test phase.
This move follows a previous trial earlier this year where BA stopped serving hot breakfasts like eggs, bacon, and sausages on domestic Club Europe routes. It also comes after the airline fared well in a recent YouGov survey ranking the best and worst plane food, where BA was named the fourth best airline for food and the top UK-based carrier on the list.
