American Airlines’ recent switch in catering providers at London Heathrow Airport has left workers facing uncertainty over job transfers. The airline ended its long-standing agreement with dnata in late February 2026, reportedly due to hygiene issues including a pest infestation at the facility. Dnata had handled catering for American’s flights from Heathrow for years.
The abrupt pause forced American to implement double catering, loading meals for both outbound and return flights from U.S. airports, which led to reduced menus and delays on up to 19 daily transatlantic flights. British Airways temporarily aided by opening its kitchens, allowing partial restoration of services in early March.
By April 22, Austrian firm Do&Co assumed full catering responsibilities across all cabins for Heathrow departures, initially through its British Airways partnership. While this stabilized operations, American has described the Do&Co deal as temporary and continues evaluating long-term options. No details have emerged on whether dnata staff will transfer to the new provider or face job losses, contributing to ongoing anxiety among ground workers at the hub.