WASHINGTON -- American and subsidiary TWA by Nov. 1 will stop
serving meals in economy class on most domestic flights, as well as
in first class on domestic flights of two hours or less, such as
Chicago-Nashville.
The rules also apply to flights to Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and
the Caribbean, as well as two-class service to Central and South
America.
The airlines will continue to serve meals to all passengers on
nonstop transcontinental flights, and on three-class international
flights to Europe, Asia and South America.
American, which has declared a "state of emergency" at the
airline because of the financial fallout from the terrorist
attacks, said the move is necessary to save money. It will not
specify the amount of savings.
American isn't the first U.S. carrier to cut food service in the
wake of the terrorist attacks.
America West said Sept. 14 it was temporarily discontinuing food
service to shorten the turnaround time on flights, which had been
slowed by the new security measures.
But America West said it intended to resume food service when
airline and airport operations are "fully stabilized."