American Airlines Brings Fresh Food Back to New York-Chicago First Class for First Time Since 2019

American Airlines is reintroducing fresh food options to first class cabins on flights between New York and Chicago this month, marking the first time in roughly seven years that plated meals have been served on the route.

The new “light bites” menu applies to first class passengers flying between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and both John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). Previously, first class travelers on the roughly two-hour route were limited to packaged items from a snack basket (American and its competitors Delta Air Lines and United Airlines-typically reserves full meal service for domestic flights exceeding 900 miles).

On each flight, passengers will choose between two rotational options.

Morning selections include smoked salmon, tropical chia overnight oats, prosciutto and melon, a fruit and cheese plate, prosciutto and brie, and apple cinnamon chia pudding. Lunch and dinner options feature a turkey and Gouda sandwich, curry chicken salad, Thai noodle salad, whipped burrata, poached shrimp with noodle salad, a mezze plate, blackened chicken, and a grilled vegetable wrap.

American last offered fresh food on the New York-Chicago route in 2019, and the restoration comes as American works to close the premium-product gap with Delta and United through upgraded cabins, lounge expansions, Starlink, and upcoming seatback screens on narrow-body aircraft.