American Airlines is bringing fresh food back to first class on flights between New York and Chicago this month, ending a roughly seven-year stretch in which the cabin offered only packaged snacks on the route.
The carrier said Wednesday that travelers in the front cabin will be able to choose between two options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fresh meals have not been served in first class on the corridor since 2019, according to an airline spokeswoman.
For breakfast, people can pick from prosciutto and melon or apple cinnamon chia pudding. Lunch and dinner choices include a Thai noodle salad or a mezze plate.
The airline described the additions as compact “bites” tailored to the short flight time between the two cities.
The New York–Chicago market is one of the busier business corridors in the United States, connecting American’s hubs at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport with O’Hare International Airport. Passengers enjoy a selection of light morning and afternoon offerings designed for customers looking for fresh, flavorful meal choices, according to the airline.
The expanded service operates on flights connecting American’s hubs at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport with O’Hare International Airport. Breakfast selections may include smoked salmon, fruit and cheese plates, prosciutto and brie, and tropical chia overnight oats. Lunch and dinner selections may include curry chicken salad, turkey and Gouda sandwiches, whipped burrata, poached shrimp with noodle salad, blackened chicken, and grilled vegetable wraps.
The light bites are available exclusively on board and cannot be ordered through pre-order.
Our light bites menu provides an elevated experience on one of our most popular routes,” “We want to exceed the expectations of even our most discerning customers, and this new, more substantial menu offering is designed to do just that.
Raphael Girardoni, Vice President of Culinary Strategy and Operations
The update is part of an effort by American to appeal to high-spending travelers. The carrier has lagged behind Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in both profits and investments in premium options as competitors expanded high-end cabins, lounges, and upgraded services.
American has been rebuilding its premium offerings through new cabin designs, added lounge space and plans to install seatback screens across its narrow-body fleet. Food service in first class represents a smaller piece of that strategy, since short-haul routes are where carriers have trimmed amenities most sharply.
Airlines have trimmed food service on short flights due to limited galley space and brief times at cruise altitude. On the New York-Chicago corridor, travelers in first class receive a smaller, packaged snack.
