Since 2025, KLM and Air France have been testing buy-on-board food and beverage concepts on short-haul flights. Up to now, this trial phase was limited to selected routes, where complimentary catering was reduced while offering substantial food options for purchase.
Unsurprisingly, the trial phase is now being formalized, at least at KLM. The Dutch carrier announced that the buy-on-board service concept will be expanded to all European flights starting October 2026. As is customary in the industry, the airline frames the reduced free catering as an enhancement designed to meet passenger preferences:
With this enhancement, KLM is responding to a broader trend among European full-service airlines and to travelers’ growing desire for more choice and flexibility.
These changes affect Economy Class passengers only. Buy-on-board items—such as poke bowls or fresh salads—can either be pre-ordered online prior to flight or purchased directly onboard from the menu, subject to availability.
KLM’s cuts do not go quite as far as Lufthansa’s, where complimentary catering on short European routes is limited to a small bottle of water and a piece of chocolate. Under KLM’s updated model, water, orange juice, coffee, and tea remain complimentary, accompanied by a Stroopwafel.
Nevertheless, this represents a notable service reduction compared to the current standard. On flights longer than roughly one hour, soft drinks, beer, wine, and a fresh snack—such as a sandwich or banana bread—are currently served free of charge. On ultra-short routes (e.g. Amsterdam to Hamburg), catering is already limited to a bottle of water.
Future plans for sister airline Air France remain unconfirmed, though similar buy-on-board tests were conducted on select short-haul routes as well.
Source: KLM press release