British Airways banned water bottles for a one-week trial in mid-June 2025, as part of what the airline has called “efforts to reduce plastic waste” but passengers are referring to as “obviously a cost-saving exercise.”
Transatlantic trial
The pilot-scheme ran between 16 and 22 June, affecting flyers in economy long-haul seats from between London Heathrow, and Miami, Los Angeles, and Boston, in the US, the flag carrier has confirmed. On one passenger forum however, chatter indicated there had been two-weeks without bottled water on menus.
Economy ticket holders were not completely deprived of water thanks to H2O service taking place in paper cups instead of bottles. BA’s Club World and first class passengers were not part of the experiment.
A British Airways spokesperson, speaking to The Independent, said the scheme was focused on three routes, and promised customers the carrier would be “listening very carefully to their feedback.”
Aviation and single-use plastics
Among the green pledges on BA’s website are various sustainability commitments under the BA Better World Programme around reducing emissions and waste, including the elimination of single-use plastics. Aviation has been estimated to be responsible for 6.1 million tonnes of plastic waste per year – two per cent of the world total.
To help to change that, BA says it is “Working towards implementing a circular economy” and aims “to keep our resources in use for as long as possible through product design, re-use and recycling and through partnerships with our suppliers.” “We’re dedicated to finding innovative solutions that are better for the environment.”
Green or greenwashing?
Downing bottles is not the only way in which the airline has cut down on plastic waste. Its comfort package blankets are no longer wrapped in plastic and it is rolling out recycled plastic duvets.
But amid these actions, BA has been accused of greenwashing basic cost-cutting measures “under the guise of saving the polar bears.” Just months ago changes to frequent flyer lunch options on long-haul routes caused consternation among the consumer community, who were offered extended brunchtimes featuring Belgian waffles, cheese frittatas, and poached eggs, with sourdough, rather than a full meal – something they considered a downgrade.
Consolidating breakfast and lunch, means fewer and less varied ingredients in meals which are cheaper and probably lighter to carry. BA has defended the new brunch service saying its introduction followed positive customer feedback on classic brunch dishes and lighter lunch options.
