Trip Ideas Volunteer + Charity American Airlines Donated 25,000 Meals That Would Have Been Served in the Air “Communities across the country have seen a rise in need for meals, and we had a surplus of food..." By Alison Fox Alison Fox Instagram Twitter Alison Fox is a journalist whose work regularly appears in Travel + Leisure. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. She focuses on travel news and feature stories based on personal experiences and interviews. Born in Brooklyn and a lifelong traveler, she developed a love for exploring the world at an early age and hopes to visit every country. * Traveled to 50+ countries * Received a master's degree in journalism from Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University * Received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on April 28, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: American Airlines In what has become a common effort among airlines, American has donated 25,000 meals through a partnership with local restaurants in Chicago and Washington, D.C. The airline teamed up with the LEE Initiative’s Restaurant Workers Relief Program to donate the meals that would have been served inflight. The LEE Initiative has turned local restaurants in cities across the country into relief centers offering to-go meals and other supplies for those in the restaurant industry and are currently out of work. “Communities across the country have seen a rise in need for meals, and we had a surplus of food due to the decreased demands for air travel,” Ron DeFeo, the senior vice president of global engagement for American Airlines, said in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. “The LEE Initiative is a great example of working within communities and nonprofits in a unique way to help provide what they need in an unprecedented time.” American Airlines American Airlines Like many airlines grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, American has looked for ways to distribute unused food. So far, the airline has given out more than 200,000 pounds of food to food banks, hospitals, and nonprofits, mostly from unused in-flight offerings. “It’s rewarding to see companies like American Airlines care for communities… I’m truly thankful that the restaurant industry is not being forgotten at a time when so many people across the country are experiencing hardships,” Chef Edward Lee, the founder, mentor and director of programming at the LEE Initiative, said in the statement. In addition to American’s efforts, a United Airlines spokesman told T+L this week the carrier donated more than 15,000 pounds of food from the airline’s Newark Liberty International Airport hub to area food banks. This effort comes after the airline started working to transform an empty cargo facility in Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport into a food distribution center. Similarly, Delta Air Lines donated thousands of pounds of leftover food last month after the carrier cut back on in-flight services as well as offerings from their Delta Sky Clubs. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit