What was the first airline to serve food?

The first airline to serve any meals aboard a flight was the Handley-Page flight in the year of 1919. This plane went from London, England to Paris, France. The meals at that time were pre-packaged and could be purchased for only 3 shillings. There were no kitchen areas installed in planes at this time.

In 1936, United Airlines installed a kitchen on their planes which could serve hot meals to passengers. This started a trend, which other airlines were quick to pick up on. The extravagance of these meals extended into the 1950’s, which Pan Am airlines included linen tablecloths and real silver utensils.

When the prices of airfare began to fall in the late 1960’s, the practice of serving lavish meals came to an end. Depending on the length of travel, some airlines today still offer meals on board. These meals however, have to be purchased and are not included in the price of the ticket. Most airlines still offer complimentary drinks to passengers.