American Airlines has partnered with Dallas restaurant Pecan Lodge to serve Texas barbecue in first class on select flights from Dallas Fort Worth to New York, giving passengers a taste of the airline's home state. Olivia Palamountain reports

American Airlines has introduced Texas barbecue onboard select domestic flights as part of a new partnership with Dallas-based restaurant Pecan Lodge.

From February 2026, first class passengers on Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to New York LaGuardia and JFK routes will be able to enjoy onboard barbecue dishes created by the award-winning restaurant.

Founded in 2010, Pecan Lodge is known for its Central Texas-style barbecue and has received recognition from outlets including The New York Times, Food Network and Travel + Leisure. The collaboration marks the first time the restaurant's food has been served onboard an aircraft.

The menu features a Pecan Lodge barbecue platter with smoked brisket and smoked sausage, served with mac and cheese, coleslaw, pickles, onions and the restaurant's signature barbecue sauce. In March 2026, American will switch to a smoked chopped brisket sandwich served on a brioche bun, accompanied by roasted green beans, potato salad and the same barbecue accompaniments.

Both meals are available exclusively via preorder and can be booked from January 11, 2026 through American's website or mobile app. The offering is limited to first class passengers on the specified routes.

Rhonda Crawford, svp of customer experience design and strategy at American Airlines, says: "As we celebrate American's centennial anniversary in 2026, we're looking forward to delighting our customers in new ways that honour unique regional tastes, beginning right here in our home state through one of the most beloved barbecue restaurants in Texas. Our customers deserve nothing but the best, and Pecan Lodge is certainly that."

The barbecue partnership forms part of a broader effort to refresh the carrier's onboard and lounge experience. The airline has recently teamed up with Bollinger Champagne and Lavazza coffee, and is also rolling out free wifi for AAdvantage members, sponsored by AT&T.

Food collaborations rooted in place are becoming more common as airlines look for ways to differentiate the onboard experience – think Delta Air Lines' partnership with Shake Shack and Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurant Duddell's for Cathay Pacific. By spotlighting a well-known Dallas restaurant on flights departing from its main hub, American is linking food to geography in a way that reinforces its local identity.