Cathay Pacific is to introduce its own beer “specially brewed to be drunk at 35,000 feet”.
Betsy Beer, named after Cathay’s first aircraft from the 1940s, will be served in First and Business Class on flights between Hong Kong and UK destinations – Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
The beer is made from a combination of Hong Kong and UK ingredients including Dragon Eye fruit and hops from Kent.
Cathay Pacific said: “It isn’t a secret that cabin pressure and altitude affects passengers’ taste buds, but by using a combination of science and traditional brewing methods, Betsy Beer, is created to taste great both in the air and on the ground.”
Cathay Pacific general manager marketing, loyalty programme & CRM Julian Lyden said: “We know that when you fly, your sense of taste changes. Airlines address this for food in certain ways. But nobody has ever tried to improve the taste of beer at altitude. That seemed like a great opportunity for us to help our beer-loving passengers travel well.
“We are constantly looking for innovative and meaningful ways to enhance the travel experience for our customers. To help passengers experience something memorable for the first time is a big part of what we mean by ‘travelling well’. Betsy Beer is a great example of this. A beautifully crafted product designed purely with the traveller, and beer lover, in mind.”
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