American Airlines is Adding Oat Milk Creamer to its Menus This Fall Following PETA Campaign

American Airlines is set to introduce an oat milk creamer to its menu this fall following a campaign by animal rights group PETA, which saw 150,000 people deluge the Fort Worth-based carrier with emails calling for a dairy-free milk alternative to be available on its flights.

From November, American Airlines plans to introduce oak milk creamer sticks to flights for all passengers who want to avoid dairy in their coffee—whether that be because of lactose intolerance or animal welfare concerns.

American Airlines will become the fifth US-based carrier to offer oat milk on its flights, following Alaska Airlines and Delta, which became the first major airlines in the United States to offer the popular dairy milk alternative last year.

United Airlines and JetBlue added oat milk creamer on flights earlier this year, and PETA is now calling on Southwest Airlines to follow suit.

“The number of people ditching dairy is soaring because vegan options are kind to cows, healthier for humans, and better for the planet,” commented PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.

“PETA applauds American Airlines for getting on board with vegan creamer and urges Southwest Airlines to do the same.”

Oat milk has become the go-to choice for airlines looking to introduce dairy-free milk alternatives to their menus. The creamy consistency of oat milk makes it a particularly good choice in hot drinks like coffee, and it also has more fiber and protein than many other non-dairy options.

Until last year, it was rare for airlines to offer dairy-free milk alternatives, but the number of airlines catering to vegan and lactose-intolerant passengers has swelled in recent months.

Along with the airlines listed above, a few of the other carriers offering oat milk include Air Canada, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines.

So far, nearly 45,000 people have joined PETA’s campaign to pressure Southwest Airlines to offer oat milk creamer on its flights. The sample email that PETA is encouraging people to send to Southwest says: “As someone who cares deeply about animals and the environment, I’m contacting you with a proposal that perfectly aligns with your airline’s dedication to passenger satisfaction and sustainability.”

“By serving vegan creamer, you could cater to the needs of your passengers, as 95% of Asian Americans and 80% of Indigenous and Black Americans are estimated to be lactose intolerant.”