Delta Air Lines will be removing all food and beverage services from flights under 349 miles, beginning May 19. This will affect around 450 daily flights, according to reports.
“Beginning May 19, Delta is adjusting onboard beverage service to create a more consistent experience across our network. Customers traveling in Delta Comfort and Delta Main on flights 350 miles and above will now receive full beverage and snack service, while shorter flights will no longer offer food and beverage service—with the exception of Delta First which always receives full service,” a Delta spokesperson told PEOPLE.
“Even on the small number of flights without beverage service, our crew will continue to be visible, available, and focused on caring for our customers, like they do on every flight.”
Passengers on flights over 350 miles will have access to the full beverage and snack menu.
READ: Amazon and Delta Air Lines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi by 2028 (March 31, 2026)
Delta has not offered food or beverage service on flights under 250 miles since 2015, and the change from full to express service was introduced in 2017 for flights under 349 miles.
Many travelers have taken to social media to criticize this move. “BREAKING: Delta Air Lines will no longer offer free snacks or drinks on all flights starting May 19th (under 350 miles).
Meanwhile, Delta CEO Ed Bastian received $27.1 million in 2024. Consumers lose, every single time,” one X user posted. Several people have described the move as “nickel-and-diming,” while others questioned the removal of even basic drink service. One person on reddit called it “zero service”.
However, others have defended the move. “It’s a reasonable decision,” Lee Abbamonte, a New York-based travel expert, told Fox News Digital. “Short flights don’t need food and beverage — you’re done in an hour and can easily plan ahead or just wait.” “Airlines have been cutting costs for years now, and it will only continue as fuel prices continue to rise and competition lessens,” he added.
READ: Delta Air Lines reports booking decline amid escalating Trump tariffs (April 9, 2025)
Meanwhile, Delta also responded to the shutdown of Spirit Airlines. Spirit Airlines has recently announced it is shutting down operations, bringing an abrupt end to more than three decades of low-cost flying in the United States and beyond. Its parent, Spirit Aviation Holdings, confirmed that the wind-down has begun with immediate effect, leaving passengers stranded and all flights cancelled.
Delta announced it will be offering support to affected travelers and team members, in response to the Spirit shutdown. Spirit pilots and flight attendants will be able to access standby travel on Delta per existing agreements for the next 10 days. The airline also welcomed Spirit employees to apply for jobs with Delta.