Virgin Atlantic to introduce inflight cocktail service

Virgin Atlantic is working with Bombay Sapphire this July to introduce an onboard cocktail bar and specialist cocktail service for Upper Class passengers. On 1 July a Bombay Sapphire mixologist will be creating a choice of five cocktails for passengers at the Upper Class Suite onboard bar during selected flights between London and New York.

Lysette Gauna, Head of Onboard Media, commented:

"We are delighted to trial this unique service with Bombay Sapphire and look forward to seeing the feedback from customers. We have offered a successful cocktail service in the Heathrow Clubhouse for some months now and would now like to see if there is a demand for a similar service onboard.

"We are planning to trial the onboard cocktail service on some New York flights throughout July, and intend to introduce the service onto selected flights later in the year.

"The new Upper Class Suite bar is the perfect venue to enjoy a cocktail - a newly designed private bar in an area separated from the cabin, which has a welcoming atmosphere."

Marshall Dawson, Bombay Sapphire Global Brand Director, added:

"Bombay Sapphire is the perfect premium spirit to use for the discerning passengers travelling in Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic. Bombay Sapphire is an ideal, extremely versatile spirit for use in cocktails.

"We are delighted to be the chosen spirit partner by Virgin Atlantic for such a prestigious and innovative venture. Bombay Sapphire consumers appreciate and enjoy the best things in life, with luxury travel rating very highly in their everyday lifestyle."

Cabin crew will hand out a cocktail menu to Upper Class passengers during the first drinks service. Passengers can choose from a French 75, Ivy Fizz Royale, Grapefruit Collins, Gin Martini and a Raspberry Debonaire. The cocktail barman will be stationed at the onboard bar creating the cocktails. The cabin crew will serve the cocktails to Upper Class passengers in their suites or they are welcome to come and sit at the bar and make their choice. It is intended for the service to be offered for the first three hours of the flight and consumption will be monitored and limited.

The mixologist that has been chosen to take part in the trial is the Managing Director of specialist bartender service - Soulshakers. Having set up cocktail services at Matchbar, The Player, Milk and Honey, Brass Monkey and The Saint Bar, he was handpicked by Bombay Sapphire for his excellent skills and expertise in cocktail shaking and his friendly and engaging personality.

The mixologist will be in a Bombay Sapphire uniform and therefore be clearly distinguishable from the Virgin Atlantic cabin crew. He will receive extensive safety procedure training to enable him to work onboard an aircraft and will not perform any additional duties throughout the flight.