British Airways has announced a new partnership with award-winning British tea producer Birchall. The airline will offer a carefully curated range of high quali-tea options to its customers, both on the ground and in the air, in celebration of British originality.
From 1 May, British Airways’ customers can enjoy award-winning Birchall tea across all long-haul cabins including World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), Club World (long-haul business) and First. The new offering will also be served on board all short-haul flights in Club Europe (short-haul business) from June, and available to purchase in Euro Traveller (economy) from July via its High Life Café. Birchall tea will also be rolled out across British Airways’ lounges globally.
British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: “Last year, we served more than 37 million cups of tea in the air, and more than two million cups in our lounges globally, so we knew that selecting our newest tea partner was a decision we had to get right.
“We’re proud to be continually leading the way in championing British originality, and it was important to us that our tea not only ticks the taste box, but also showcases the quality and talent we have on our doorstep here in the UK.”
Time for tea at 35,000ft: Long-haul options
Customers travelling in First can enjoy an exclusive selection of specialty teas expertly curated to elevate their experience at al-tea-tude. Among these is Birchall Great Rift English Breakfast tea, which boasts an unrivalled bright and brilliant taste, making it the UK’s most-awarded tea for taste. As part of the award-winning tea menu, other variations also include relaxing Camomile, warming Lemongrass & Ginger, Great Rift Decaffeinated and refreshing Red Berry & Flower.
Customers travelling in Club World can also sip on a wide range of tea flavours and herbal infusions, including English Breakfast, Decaffeinated English Breakfast, Peppermint, Green Tea and Earl Grey. The Birchall string and tag teabags are made from plant-based fibres, in a fully solar powered tea factory.
Elsewhere, customers travelling in World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins can enjoy Birchall’s English Breakfast and Decaffeinated English Breakfast tea, expertly blended by the fifth generation of the Birchall family, ready for the perfect brew on board.
Sip in short-haul
From June, Birchall tea variations will be available in the airline’s Club Europe cabin, so customers can sip on their favourite blend across Europe and beyond. The brew variations include Great Rift Breakfast Blend, Decaffeinated English Breakfast, Peppermint and Green Tea. From July, customers travelling in Euro Traveller can purchase a Birchall brew from the airline’s High Life Café.
Brew before take-off: Lounges
From 1 May, Birchall tea will be rolled out across British Airways’ lounges globally. In the airline’s Concorde Room, guests can choose from a variety of blends ahead of their flight, including Birchall’s Great Rift Breakfast Blend, Great Rift Decaffeinated, Virunga Earl Grey and Mao Feng Green.
In the airline’s First and Club lounges, customers can choose from a selection of brews to suit their needs, whether they’re ready to relax or energise before their journey. The tea menu includes Birchall’s English Breakfast, Decaffeinated English Breakfast, Red Berry & Flower and Peppermint tea.
Elsewhere across the customer experience
The airline is continuing to invest in its customer experience as part of its £7 billion transformation plan, which launched last year and continues to champion the best of British originality. British Airways recently announced that it will be the first airline to serve prestige cuvée English sparkling wines in its First cabin as part of its award-winning wine list this year.
The airline is working with pioneering English sparkling wine houses including Nyetimber, Gusbourne and Sugrue South Downs, to offer a range of new sparkling options across its First and Club World cabins, available on a rotational basis.
