Virgin Australia to no longer serve free food on flights

Virgin Australia will no longer serve free food on flights to economy passengers as it cuts costs and goes downmarket to compete with Jetstar.

From March 25, passengers will have for fork out extra cash for meals but will still be offered free water, tea, and coffee.

New owners, American private equity firm Bain Capital, plans to reposition the broke airline as a mid-market carrier instead of a full-service one like Qantas.

Virgin will also slash its number of domestic lounges from 12 to seven, but whether the on-board wi-fi will be turned off is yet to be determined.

The airline emailed customers on Wednesday informing them of the new food policy for economy passengers.

‘We understand you have purchased a fare inclusive of a complimentary snack,’ it read.

‘If you would still like to receive a snack, please make yourself known to the cabin crew once on board and they will be able to assist.’

Virgin began offering free snacks in 2011 in an attempt to go upmarket and compete with Qantas. The reversal marks a return to its early days as a budge carrier. 

The airline span the change as allowing it to provide a ‘new and fresh business class menu and economy buy on-board menu’.

‘Our new economy buy on-board menu will feature tried and tested menu items that we know our guests love such as cheese and crackers and great Australian wine,’ it said.

Virgin Australia went into administration in April last year and was sold to Bain in November. It still owes an estimated $7 billion to numerous creditors.