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Vegas carrier tries charging for meals

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 | 9:53 a.m.

In a test with potentially far-reaching consequences for the troubled airline industry, America West Airlines will begin charging passengers for meals on some flights, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

If enough travelers prove willing to pay for the privilege of dining on airline food, the eighth-largest U.S. airline -- and the second-busiest in Las Vegas -- may begin selling food on all its flights lasting longer than two hours, the Journal said.

Under America West's "Buy on Board" program, coach passengers will be offered the opportunity to buy meals ranging from a $3 snack box to a $10 Chicken Kiev dinner. Currently, the Phoenix carrier doesn't serve food on the test routes. Starting Monday, America West is planning to sell food on a dozen flights a day, for three weeks, and then evaluate the response.

Food service has been a troubling issue for the airline industry, which had billions of dollars in losses last year and is under intense pressure to cut costs.

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