TAP had long ago eliminated free meals on medium-haul flights, but maintained them for long-haul flights. In turn, Azores Airlines stopped serving free meals on long-haul flights to the United States and Canada. The measure, which came into force on October 26, applies only to economy class and ends the last phase of the review of the company’s onboard service model.
According to the newspaper Açoriano Oriental, the regional air carrier confirmed that this change is part of a broader sustainability and operational restructuring plan that began in April 2025. The objective, according to the same source, is to adjust the service to the company’s new environmental and financial goals, replacing the included meals with a direct purchase model on board.
End of a courtesy service
The change now covers long-haul flights, after the company stopped offering meals on flights to mainland Portugal and Europe. The newspaper writes that passengers on these routes could now purchase meals during the flight, using a “Buy On Board” system, which allows them to select and pay for food products from a pre-defined menu.
When asked about the economic impact of the measure, the company said that the savings “must be analyzed in light of the objectives and the time period defined in the plan and not in isolation”. The publication adds that this response indicates that Azores Airlines’ focus is more on the global sustainability of the model than on immediate cost reduction results.
Passenger complaints
He realizes that the decision was not well received by all passengers. Among the complaints reported to the newspaper, the case of an American woman who purchased her ticket in June and was informed of the change just two weeks before her flight stands out. According to the same source, the passenger regretted that the company had not considered customers who purchased tickets before the policy change.
For some travelers, the removal of complimentary meals represents a break in the onboard experience, especially on long trips. The new policy may force passengers to plan the purchase of meals in advance, as payment is made on board and only by card.
Comparison with other companies
Most airlines that operate long-haul flights, such as TAP Portugal, continue to offer meals included in the fare, which distinguishes Azores Airlines’ strategy. The same source states that the “Buy On Board” model is already common on domestic or short-term journeys, but less common on trips longer than six hours.
The company based in the Azores justifies the change with the need to “provide a greater variety of choices, adapted to passenger preferences”, maintaining the option of paying only by credit or debit card. According to the same source, receipts are issued in digital format, which follows the service’s dematerialization line.
Reactions and adaptation of the service
The publication adds that this change marks a new stage in the Azorean carrier’s onboard policy, which seeks to balance financial restrictions with the modernization of the offer. However, passenger reaction shows that the end of free meals could affect the perception of the service, especially on longer international routes. This is because on flights from the Azores to North America, which last more than six hours, free meals are no longer served on board.
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