First Choice and LSG Sky Chefs sign letter of intent for UK-wide in-flight agreement

LSG Sky Chefs and First Choice have signed a letter of intent to hand overall responsibility for the airline’s entire UK in-flight catering requirements to the world’s leading provider of in-flight services.

Under the proposed two-year agreement, LSG Sky Chefs would co-ordinate the supply of more than five million meals a year to a total of more than 14,000 flights operated by the UK’s leading leisure airline.

The bulk of the services covered by the contract would be provided by five LSG Sky Chefs Customer Service Centres – at Manchester, London-Gatwick, East Midlands, London-Stansted and Birmingham. Services at other airports across the UK would also be co-ordinated by LSG Sky Chefs, with day-to-day work handled by a number of carefully selected catering partners.

Commenting on the announcement, Dale Easdon, LSG Sky Chefs’ Regional Chief Operating Officer UK, said: “We are delighted to have received a letter of intent from First Choice. The proposed UK-wide agreement reflects the solid working relationship we have established with this client over a number of years but would see LSG Sky Chefs’ role expanded to a national level.”

Dale added: “The proposed agreement once again highlights the innovative business solutions we have pioneered for our clients, with the arrangement being planned with First Choice introducing a new design model that would also enable us to draw on the services of other providers. This is excellent news for both the airline and LSG Sky Chefs.”

First Choice Customer Operations Director Carl Gissing said: “Over the past year we have challenged our supplier base to provide a simple business model with clear and efficient processes, at the right price. LSG Sky Chefs has responded strongly to this, delivering an approach which also will exceed our customers’ expectations for innovative, contemporary in-flight menus.”

First Choice Airways is one of the UK’s premier leisure airlines and part of leading international leisure travel company First Choice Holidays PLC. It was founded in 1987 as air2000 with the aim of delivering value for money while maintaining exceptional service and performance standards. Operating a fleet of 32 aircraft from 15 UK airports, it now flies to around 60 destinations world-wide every year, including the Maldives, Mexico and resorts across the Mediterranean.