Continental Airlines Inc., the last US carrier serving free meals in the coach cabin, will start charging for food for economy-class passengers on most domestic and Canadian flights as well as certain Latin American routes.

Complimentary meals will still be offered to passengers on economy fares on all intercontinental trips, certain other international routes and domestic flights longer than six hours, Houston-based Continental said today in a statement.

“I don’t believe that free food is a compelling reason to switch brands anymore,” said Jay Sorensen, president of airline consultant IdeaWorks. “There’s a double windfall because they save money by not giving food to every passenger and generate revenue for the airline by selling the food.”

Charging for food in coach fits in with Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smisek’s plan to add fees for specific products and services. Smisek, who became CEO in January, said in October that the airline needed to reverse almost $1 billion in losses since the 2001 US terrorist attacks.

Pricing and menu options are still under development, Continental said. The fourth-largest US airline has served meals in coach on domestic flights of three hours or more, the last holdout in an industry that has been shedding amenities in the past two decades for travelers buying the cheapest tickets.

Inflight meals date to the dawn of US commercial aviation in the 1920s, when trips were so long that travelers had to eat. (Bloomberg)