LAX Caterer Flying Food Group Faces Labor Violations Amid Mega-Events Boom

Event summary

  • Flying Food Group (FFG) faces a report detailing systematic labor violations affecting 700+ workers at LAX, including unsafe conditions, wage theft, and sexual harassment.
  • Two fires at FFG's Inglewood facility in 2025-2026, including one where workers were trapped in a chained cooler, highlight severe safety lapses.
  • FFG settled wage theft lawsuits totaling $5.25M and violated California's COVID right-to-recall law, costing $700,000 in settlements.
  • The company admitted to anti-union activities in a March 2026 NLRB settlement, including promoting decertification efforts and interrogating employees about union sympathies.
  • UNITE HERE Local 11 is urging Los Angeles to deny FFG's LAX license renewal in June 2026, citing a pattern of violations.

The big picture

Flying Food Group's labor violations come as Los Angeles prepares to host major events, raising concerns about the city's ability to uphold international labor standards. The case highlights the tension between cost-cutting in airport services and the growing scrutiny on supply chain ethics in the hospitality sector. With FFG's LAX license renewal pending, the outcome could set a precedent for labor practices in airport catering and other outsourced services.

What we're watching

Regulatory Risk
Whether Los Angeles will deny FFG's LAX license renewal in June 2026, given its history of violations and the city's requirement to consider compliance records.
Airlines' Response
How international airlines like Air France, Lufthansa, and Japan Airlines will address complaints under OECD Guidelines, given their obligation to conduct human rights due diligence on suppliers.
Union Influence
The extent to which UNITE HERE Local 11 can leverage this report to strengthen worker protections and union representation at FFG and other airport service providers.