Beginning in October, Dutch airline KLM is phasing out free economy sandwiches on European flights, retaining only basic refreshments like coffee, tea, and stroopwafels. welt.de reported that this shift reflects a broader aviation industry trend toward individualizing passenger pricing and expanding paid selections, closely mirroring ultra-low-cost carriers.
KLM Trims Free Economy Meals While Individualized Tariffs Expand
The elimination of the complimentary sandwich leaves passengers with a streamlined selection of coffee, tea, water, orange juice, and a traditional Dutch stroopwafel. According to welt.de, the move responds to a growing passenger demand for choice and flexibility. Rather than maintaining a rigid, all-inclusive fare, European carriers are carving up the economy cabin into highly customized tiers. Laura Frommberg, editor-in-chief of the aviation portal aerotelegraph.com, noted in the welt.de report that tiered pricing brings more travelers into planes, resulting in passengers sitting side-by-side with entirely different service experiences.
This slicing of ticket classes extends far beyond the catering cart. Condor passengers can now reserve the overhead luggage bin above their seats in advance starting at 4.99 euros. Budget airlines like Ryanair have spent years perfecting this unbundled model—charging extra for almost every auxiliary service while keeping base ticket prices low. A Ryanair spokesperson told welt.de that full-service carriers are increasingly adopting this unbundled strategy as they align their operations with modern consumer expectations.
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A representative survey conducted by market researchers Ipsos in early June on behalf of the German Aviation Association (BDL) highlights this shift in consumer mindset. The polling of 1,000 individuals aged 18 to 75 in Germany who had flown at least once in the past two years revealed that only 20 percent considered onboard food and drink to be very important. Ticket price and the feeling of safety onboard ranked vastly higher.
Inflight Internet Closes In on Food as a Core Travel Need
Ranking just behind catering preferences, 16 percent of respondents identified inflight internet as very important. Overall, 79 percent of survey participants view having access to the internet during a flight as a positive feature. Consequently, airlines are aggressively expanding their connectivity infrastructure.
Lufthansa announced plans to equip all 850 aircraft in its group with satellite internet provided by United States-based Starlink by 2029. Emirates is similarly rolling out high-speed connectivity, offering free Wi-Fi across all cabin classes on suitably equipped aircraft. Frommberg observed that while completely free, unrestrictive internet remains a differentiator used by select carriers today, basic messaging is often the current ceiling elsewhere. The BDL anticipates that fast, straightforward internet will transform into a standard amenity across an increasing number of flights, driven by high passenger demand.
Frommberg emphasized that connectivity has surpassed a basic snack in terms of passenger utility. Internet access functions increasingly as an essential utility rather than an optional luxury.
