Inflight catering is one of aviation’s most visible experiences, and one of its most complex operating environments. Every meal sits at the intersection of food regulation and aviation security, global supply chains and tight operational windows, sustainability ambition and evolving waste rules. The work is judged in minutes onboard, but earned through thousands of decisions on the ground.
With that in mind, gategroup is pleased to share that CEO Christoph Schmitz has been elected President of the Airline Catering Association (ACA) for the 2026–2027 period. The announcement was made during the ACA Symposium in Toulouse, held from 18–20 February 2026.
Congratulations to Christoph on this appointment. It reflects the trust of peers across the sector, and reinforces gategroup’s long-standing commitment to advancing inflight catering as a distinct, strategically important industry.
“This is the first time gategroup has held the presidency of ACA and it places us at the forefront of these conversations, enabling us to help shape the future framework within which the entire sector operates. Working collectively, we can ensure our industry continues to evolve responsibly and with purpose.”
— Christoph Schmitz
Why gategroup’s role in the ACA matters
Inflight catering is often impacted by rules developed for adjacent environments, such as restaurants or broader airline operations, rather than guidance designed specifically for aviation catering’s realities. That can lead to fragmented requirements and inconsistent interpretation across markets, adding complexity for providers supporting international networks.
The ACA provides a dedicated platform for member companies to collaborate, share best practices, and engage constructively with authorities, helping strengthen alignment across global markets and support safe, efficient operations. Founded in 2018, it was established by leading inflight catering companies, including gategroup.
What the ACA is focused on?
Across jurisdictions and operations, five themes consistently shape the association’s agenda:
Food Labelling: seeking clearer, standardized interpretations of regulations such as the EU’s Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FIC 1169/2011).
Cabin & Food Waste: pushing for more flexible, sustainability-driven legislation that reflects today’s environmental ambitions.
Security: develop industrywide, globally consistent security guidelines to ensure uniform application of regulations and improved confidence among members, authorities, and customers.
Tax & VAT: simplify complex VAT rules, especially in Europe, where multileg journeys create administrative challenges for providers.
Single-Use Plastics: emphasize the need for carefully assessed policies that consider operational realities, such as mandatory waste incineration and the environmental impact of heavier non-plastic alternatives.
About gategroup
gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board and hospitality products and services. gategroup provides passengers with superior culinary and retail experiences, leveraging innovation and advanced technology solutions. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving passengers from over 200 locations in over 60 countries/territories across all continents. For further information, please visit: www.gategroup.com
