Summary

  • American Airlines flights from Philadelphia and Charlotte have departed without some beverages due to catering team stress.
  • Flights under 900 miles are told to take off with minimal catering, which could include just water.
  • American’s catering problems stem from its commissary stations being staffed by its own employees.

Some American Airlines flights originating from its hub at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) are reportedly departing without beverages to serve once airborne. The news comes as the US legacy carrier has allegedly dealt with staffing issues for months, creating “significant stress” on its catering team.

The complications were not just experienced at PHL, as reports have also indicated that catering has been “limited” at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) through the weekend. Both airports were the East Coast hubs of US Airways, which merged with American in 2015.

Fights under 900 miles

The development was first reported by aviation watchdog JonNYC on X on Friday.

Subsequent posts shared that flights were “told to take off with bare basics catering if needed,” and that flights under 900 miles from PHL were “told to do the same for now.” While not immediately disclosed, “bare basics catering” could refer to just water only. As noted by JonNYC, the limitations were expected to last through Sunday at CLT, but the end date of PHL’s catering woes is unclear.

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According to Live and Let’s Fly, passengers on a flight from PHL to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) on June 24th were informed by a flight attendant that a new inflight beverage policy allowed for orange juice, apple juice, water, coffee, and tea to be available, excluding soda and alcoholic beverages. If ice is available, it will only be offered to first class passengers.

American Airlines aircraft at San Francisco International Airport.

Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock

According to a passenger who wrote to Live and Let’s Fly, the flight attendants appeared to be “noticeably annoyed” by the new beverage policy and provided passengers with American’s customer service email address to express any dissatisfaction.

“Appalling service change, so odd…cheap,” the passenger explained.

“Under significant stress”

Simple Flying contacted American late Saturday for comment on the matter, but a representative could not be immediately reached. The airline, however, confirmed the policy in a memo to its flight attendants that was obtained by Live And Let’s Fly.

“The catering team in PHL is under significant stress and is challenged to provision all flights with catering as scheduled. To try and mitigate the issue, the catering team will make their primary focus flights with a stage length equal to or greater than 900 miles and ensure that those flights receive the full catering plan. Supplemental catering will be provided on flights of less than 900 miles. Supplemental catering consists of minimal provisioning to include crew meals (when scheduled), water and ice. Please do not delay a flight to request extra catering.”

American Airlines catering Boeing 737-800 first class.

Photo: Channing Reid | Simple Flying

Most flights out of PHL will likely have more than just water and ice, but according to the memo, the airline will not rule out operating a flight that only has those items.

Staffing problems since Spring

It is believed that American’s catering issues result from its commissary stations being catered by its own employees. According to JonNYC, they are “normal contracted kitchens,” but the deliveries are staffed by the airline’s workers, which is a “hold over” from previous contracts that US Airways had. American has reportedly not had enough trained personnel at the CLT and PHL commissary stations to deliver service items since late spring.

The carrier also employs delivery workers and owns the commissary station for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), but it is unclear if flights from the airport have experienced similar catering complications. Other stations are handled by third-party companies such as Gate Gourmet and Sky Chefs.

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  • GettyImages-1091589250

    Philadelphia International Airport

    IATA/ICAO Code:
    PHL/KPHL

    Country:
    United States

    CEO:
    Chellie Cameron

    Passenger Count :
    11,865,006 (2020)

    Runways :
    8/26 – 1,524m (5,000ft) |
    9L/27R – 2,896m (9,501ft) |
    9R/27L – 3,658m (12,001ft) |
    17/35 – 1,982m (6502ft)

    Terminals:
    Terminal A |
    Terminal B |
    Terminal C |
    Terminal D |
    Terminal E |
    Terminal F

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