American Airlines has unveiled a $100 million catering facility to serve its hub at Dallas Fort Worth International airport (DFW).
At just under 20,000 sqm, the building is the largest airline catering kitchen in the country according to the carrier and is more than three times the size of a football field.
The airline says that, since it opened at the start of the summer, the kitchen has helped to “minimise catering delays, improving the hub’s operation which in turn improves the airline’s operation”.
During peak travel season, the catering facility prepares nearly 15,000 fresh meals a day here. The airline and its regional partners operated more than 800 daily flights from DFW to more than 240 destinations in 23 different countries this past summer.
Examples of high-tech equipment include a robotic machine which loads soft drinks into the drawers inserted into beverage carts, saving time and ensuring the correct beverages are loaded on to each flight. The facility handles close to 200,000 beverage cans a day.
From a sustainability standpoint, the kitchen plans to soon participate in a programme that turns organic food waste into compost. As trays and dishes are cleaned, organic food waste will be collected by a vendor and distributed to farms and compost facilities.
The airline is also deploying a new fleet of more than 100 catering trucks to support its hub operation.
Brady Byrnes, SVP of Inflight and Premium Guest Services at American, commented:
“From the moment a customer steps into one of our airport lobbies to when they are relaxing with a refreshment at 35,000 feet, we’re always thinking of ways to make their journey even better.
“This kitchen is an example of the investments we’re making to enhance our operations while focusing on delivering a consistent customer experience and service that sets us apart.”
We explored the behind-the-scenes process of catering onboard meals in a recent feature, published in July 2023:
