The onboard catering market values at £886 million, with in-flight catering taking 73% share of the market.

Have budget airlines, where catering provision is minimal, had a negative influence on the market?

What are the differences and similarities between the catering provision onboard aeroplanes, ferries and trains?

This reports covers the diverse sector of catering provision in three main commercial transport areas - onboard aeroplanes, ferries, and trains. Each sector offers its own unique catering provision, reflecting the nature and length of the journey involved, as well as the consumer expectations. Competition is evident within the airline and ferry sectors, where established travel operators are faced with relative newcomers, notably no-frills budget airlines and the Eurostar and Shuttle services through the Channel Tunnel. In this heightened competitive environment the catering offer has become increasingly important as a means for transport operators to differentiate their services, as well as deriving additional revenue.

The onboard catering market values at £886 million, with in-flight catering taking 73% share of the market.

Have budget airlines, where catering provision is minimal, had a negative influence on the market?

What are the differences and similarities between the catering provision onboard aeroplanes, ferries and trains?

This reports covers the diverse sector of catering provision in three main commercial transport areas - onboard aeroplanes, ferries, and trains. Each sector offers its own unique catering provision, reflecting the nature and length of the journey involved, as well as the consumer expectations. Competition is evident within the airline and ferry sectors, where established travel operators are faced with relative newcomers, notably no-frills budget airlines and the Eurostar and Shuttle services through the Channel Tunnel. In this heightened competitive environment the catering offer has become increasingly important as a means for transport operators to differentiate their services, as well as deriving additional revenue.

All sectors are largely dependent on passenger numbers, which are increasing most significantly in the airline sector, but declining in the ferry market. Passenger numbers on the rail network have been growing for the last five years, but problems on the network at the end of 2000 and into 2001 have had an adverse impact on demand.

Onboard catering was last the subject of a Leisure Intelligence report in June 1999.

Other Mintel reports of relevance include:

- Eating Out Review, Leisure Intelligence, May 2001

- Self-catering Holidays, Leisure Intelligence, March 2001

- Long Haul Holidays, Leisure Intelligence, March 2001

- No-Frills/Low-cost Airlines, Leisure Intelligence, February 2001

- International Business Travel, Leisure Intelligence, September 2000

- Airports, Leisure Intelligence, January 2000

- Airport Catering, Leisure Intelligence, December 1999

- Rail Travel, Leisure Intelligence, September 1999

- Crossing The Channel, Leisure Intelligence, July 1999

- Airlines, Leisure Intelligence, June 2001

- Sandwiches, Leisure Intelligence, June 2001.