How can anyone see this as a cost cutting measure?
Giving out $50 - $100 travel vouchers, paying a premium for available second sources is expensive, not to mention the overtime, management distraction for AA catering support staff.
Parker cares about premium, high revenue customers, who are greatly affected by this event, expect his team is paying close attention, expediting resolution.
Reasonable to expect this event to cost AA $$$, which they will likely claw-back from Gate Gourmet.