British Airways passengers accustomed to receiving a complimentary bottle of water and a small snack on short-haul flights may soon find this perk a thing of the past. The airline has initiated a trial to assess the feasibility of replacing individual water bottles with tiny paper cups of water during flights.

This new test is being conducted on select longer short-haul routes departing from Heathrow Airport. It builds on practices already established on British Airways EuroFlyer services from Gatwick Airport, where passengers are provided water in paper cups rather than bottles.

The trial aims to determine passenger reception to the change and evaluate its impact on service efficiency and environmental sustainability. If successful, British Airways plans to eliminate the mini water bottles across all short-haul flights, aligning with broader efforts in the airline industry to reduce plastic waste and enhance operational sustainability.

The move has sparked mixed reactions among passengers. While some understand the environmental motives behind the decision, others express concerns over the reduced convenience and potential cost-cutting measures affecting passenger comfort.

As the trial progresses, British Airways will closely monitor feedback to ensure that service changes continue to meet passenger needs while promoting environmental responsibility. If the test results are favourable, travellers can expect to see the new water service model rolled out more broadly in the near future.

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