British Airways suspends business class meals at London City

British Airways has confirmed that its Cityflyer subsidiary suspended business-class catering on flights from London City Airport for the whole of July 2026, after a problematic switch between catering suppliers left the carrier unable to load full meals onto its aircraft . The disruption affected thousands of business travellers who rely on the airline's short-haul services from the Docklands hub, leaving them without the premium meal they had paid for .

The airline apologised to affected passengers and assured that full onboard catering would return "in the coming days," though the incident has raised questions about the carrier's operational planning and supplier management .

What Went Wrong: A Catering Transition Gone Bad

The problems began when BA Cityflyer switched caterers at the start of July, replacing Dnata with Gate Gourmet, part of Swiss group gategroup . Executives had reportedly billed the change as one of their five most important decisions of the year, but the transition quickly unravelled due to bureaucratic delays .

Gate Gourmet was due to take over the east London kitchen previously run by Dnata when the contract changed hands. However, the new supplier could not gain access to the facility until late in the month, creating a critical gap in service delivery . Executives attempted to truck meals in from Gate Gourmet kitchens further afield, but these were spoilt in transit during the recent heatwave, sources confirmed .

Rather than serve substandard food, the airline took the decision to suspend the business-class meal service entirely. "Dry catering products", including crisps, snacks and drinks, remained on board, meaning economy passengers—who receive a complimentary drink and snack on Cityflyer services—were unaffected .

Passenger Compensation: Vouchers and Avios Points

To soften the blow for inconvenienced business-class passengers, BA handed out £20 pre-paid credit cards so travellers could purchase food in the terminal before departure, alongside Avios points as a gesture of goodwill . A British Airways spokeswoman said: "Providing our customers with the high-quality catering they both deserve and expect is extremely important to us. When it became clear we couldn't consistently deliver that standard during the transition to a new catering provider at BA Cityflyer, we took the decision to temporarily suspend part of the onboard service" .

She added that affected customers had received apologies and goodwill gestures, with full catering due to resume within days . The compensation package appears consistent with BA's recent approach, which has increasingly favoured Avios points over cash vouchers for service disruptions .

Impact on Business Travellers and BA's Reputation

BA Cityflyer is a short-haul mainstay for corporate flyers, operating 20 Embraer E190 aircraft predominantly from London City Airport in the east of the capital . The subsidiary runs more than 180 departures a month to Edinburgh alone, and the disruption landed at an awkward moment for the carrier, which has been reporting record demand for short-haul business class on its European network .

The subsidiary also carries a healthy leisure trade, flying to Ibiza, Barcelona, Venice, and as far as Thessaloniki in Greece, where a return business-class ticket next weekend would cost £650, according to the airline's website . The suspension of hot meals—a key differentiator for the premium cabin—has frustrated passengers, particularly given the absence of a dedicated lounge at London City Airport, which has historically been a point of contention for Club Europe travellers .

A Pattern of Catering Controversies

This is not the first time BA has faced criticism over its onboard catering decisions. In early 2026, the airline introduced controversial changes to its Club Europe (short-haul business class) catering, eliminating hot breakfasts on eight high-frequency routes from Heathrow and quietly downgrading several European destinations to lower "catering bands" . The move was described by frequent travellers as "Death by a Thousand Cuts," with passengers on affected routes receiving cold platters instead of the traditional full English breakfast .

The current disruption follows the "Brunchgate" controversy of 2024, when BA attempted to replace lunch services on long-haul flights departing before 11:30 AM with cheaper breakfast items—a decision eventually reversed following significant passenger backlash . The pattern of cost-cutting measures has led some industry observers to question whether BA is prioritising operational simplification over service quality.

Looking Ahead: Restoration and Lessons Learned

BA has confirmed that full catering is set to restart "in the coming days," though travellers booked in business class from London City are advised to check the onboard service before relying on it, and may want to build in time to eat at the airport . The airport is adding a luxury pre-flight lounge from 2027, which could help alleviate some of the premium passenger experience issues .

The episode serves as a reminder that even flagship suppliers can stumble when contracts change hands. Gate Gourmet, which took over the contract, did not comment on the disruption . The incident also highlights the vulnerability of just-in-time catering operations, particularly during extreme weather events that can compromise food quality during transport .

With the heatwave continuing to affect the UK and Europe, and with dnata staff having previously balloted for strike action that could have impacted BA operations at London City, the airline may need to review its contingency planning for catering disruptions . For now, BA Cityflyer's business passengers can expect a return to normal service in the coming days—a welcome development after a month of boarding without the meal they paid for.