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Airlines have drastically reduced the amount of money they spend on meals for passengers since the September 11, 2001 attacks, according to figures.

As well as scrapping free food for travellers sitting in economy class, carriers spend about 25 per cent less per head than they did 13 years ago.

Before the attacks - which led to a decade of financial loss for the aviation industry - airlines were spending an average of $4.79 (£2.96) per passenger. 

Passengers are paying the price for tough economic times with a lower standard of food, says the report

However, last year, the cost of food for travellers was $3.62 (£2.23) in 2013, according to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The average represents spending on food in economy and meals that are served for free in first and business class.

Travel industry analysts say tough economic times are behind the decrease - and that passengers are paying the price.

Many US airlines are offering food 'on a par with grade B diners', according to US analyst Henry Harteveldt of the Atmosphere Research Group.

Costing less: US airlines have drastically dropped spending on food since the 9/11 attacks in 2001

The news follows a survey last year which showed airlines are charging up to seven times more for food and drink than supermarkets.

Among the overpriced products highlighted were a 330ml bottle of water that cost 22p in a supermarket but £1.80 on a Jet2.com aircraft while a bar of chocolate priced at 25p on the high street cost £1.20 on an easyJet flight.

Really? Passengers aren't always so impressed

Along with Jet2.com and easyjet, Ryanair was another airline singled out for its price hikes - which included charging £1.74 for a 38p can of 7UP and £1.74 for a stick of pepperami that cost 50p at Asda.

'Airlines can get away with charging whatever they want for simple items such as a can of your favourite soft drink or a bar of chocolate, as customers have no other option once on board the aircraft,' said Bob Atkinson of TravelSupermarket, who carried out the research

On average, the survey discovered that food and drink were at least 241 per cent higher in the air.

At the 2014 World Airline Awards in March, there was only one US airline in the top ten for economy class catering, with Cathay Pacific voted in at number five.

The only awards for food picked up by British carriers were in the Best Premium Economy Class Airline Catering section, in which both Virgin and British Airways picked up awards.

'Flying is a bit like having a cold – nothing you eat or drink tastes particularly good,' one travel blogger wrote recently about airline meals.

But although many travellers believe the quality of meals in premium cabins has plummeted, a spokesman for United Airlines claims that the quality and selection of United's food is much better than it was 13 years ago.