British Airways has ditched beef for economy class passengers this summer in an attempt to appeal to a more international passenger base.

The familiar cabin crew inquiry of “chicken or beef?” will not be heard in economy after the airline ditched the national dish in favour of what it calls a lighter, healthier option.

Critics will suspect that the relentless pressure to cut costs that all airlines are facing is behind the move, although BA said cost was not a factor.

A spokesman for the airline told The Times: “We were looking for something with broad appeal. Research trends have shown us that fish pie is very popular in supermarkets so we decided to go with that and chicken and tarragon for the summer.

“We can only serve two options and beef and pork obviously have religious restrictions,” the spokesman added. BA's second-biggest long-haul market, after transatlantic routes, is to India.

Although beef meals, supplied by Gate Gourmet, will not be served in what some passengers term “cattle class” they will be served in business and first class cabins.

A spokesman for the English Beef and Lamb Executive, formerly part of the Meat and Livestock Commission, said: “It is regrettable that Britain's flag carrier is not proposing to serve Britain's national dish.”

Beef prices are rising, according to the National Farmers' Union. In the past three months world beef prices have risen from about $5,000 (£2,500) a tonne to more than $8,000 a tonne, largely because of the weakening dollar and rising feed costs.

Airlines have also been under pressure to cut costs in the face of the increasing price of jet fuel. EasyJet said that its jet-fuel prices were 80 per cent more than last year.

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