Austrian Airlines expanding buy-on-board service

[Sabena_690]

Greater choice of delicious snacks on more european flights

Austrian Bistro Service extended to European flights within range of up to 2 hours 30 minutes from 13 January 2005

From 13 January 2005, the Austrian Airlines Group will be extending its exclusive Bistro Service, originally introduced in November 2003, to include all Economy Class flights within Europe lasting up to 2 hours 30 minutes. (Until now, the service has only been available on flights lasting up to one hour 40 minutes.) The ‘Bistro Service’ range, which has proved popular amongst Austrian Airlines’ discerning guests, has now been complemented by a creative and varied range of new hot and cold snacks specially designed to satisfy the smaller hunger.

The Chief Commercial Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group, Dr. Josef E. Burger, commented on the new range: ‘Our passenger feedback to date has shown that customers really value the extra choice that our à la carte range offers them. Since the programme was introduced, around one-third of our short-haul and medium-haul passengers have used the Bistro Service offers. The trend towards a range of services in Economy Class fine-tuned to the price-performance ratio can be seen developing throughout Europe, and the choice on board our flights is more varied than that of our numerous competitor airlines. Unlike other airlines, we offer an à la carte choice prepared by the renowned airline caterers Airest and Do & Co, companies which guarantee innovative product design and the very best quality. For customers who book higher-priced Economy Class fares in order to benefit from increased travel flexibility, meanwhile, we shall be introducing a new concept tailored to the needs of this class of passenger in the near future.’

Naturally, coffee, tea and still mineral water continue to be provided free of charge. From 1 February 2005, the new Skygourmet bistro range, which will be provided on flights lasting approximately 100 minutes or more, will also feature hot snacks including Italian focaccia and a selection of favourites from Austrian cuisine. These offers will vary from week to week in order to provide a degree of culinary variety. Popular snacks such as the salmon baguette and our delicious tramezzini with a range of different fillings, as well as the vitamin bake with fresh fruits of the season will continue to be available at very reasonable prices.

http://www.aua.com/be/eng/austrian/news ... 509220D83B}

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I don't mind to buy a hot/cold snack onboard, as long as the price of the flight is reasonable. But with the return-fares between BRU and VIE starting at €207 inclusive tax, OS are becoming a bit expensive, not?

Please do take note that water, tea and coffee is stil available for free on request.

Frederic

[Advisor]

I was just wondering and wished to share/ask my fellow aviation colleagues, that if airlines start such services, will with a full payload serving many passengers not be a problem.

Imagine how chaotic it becomes in a restaurant when there are a lot of people and they have a full fledged kitchen. What would happen if we taken the kitchen to the skies?

It is good to see such new services being launched, but the question remains, will they last?