British Airways bosses are looking to wine for help in navigating the turbulent waters of the pandemic.
In an attempt to raise its game, the flag carrier is looking for a Master of Wine.
Only 418 individuals in 30 countries are eligible to receive the MW certification, which is the highest-respected qualification in wine trade.
The good news is that England boasts 200 MWs – Scotland has eight and Wales and Northern Ireland have one apiece.
France has 18 citizens, some of which are British.
British Airways bosses are looking to wine for help in getting the airline out of trouble during the pandemic.
BA cut the amount of wine it supplied for flights in order to lower costs, despite objections from passengers
Jancis Robinson, a top wine writer for BA, was its consultant until 2010. But she resigned after the airline’s then boss, Willie Walsh, cut costs by appointing a single supplier for the airline’s three cabin classes.
Two years ago, Robinson quoted a wine trade expert in the Financial Times saying the wine-buying at BA had hit ‘rock bottom – there’s only one way for them to go’.
All alcoholic drinks are free on BA flights and in the airport lounges – except on short-haul economy flights, where customers order from the Speedbird Cafe.
It sells miniature bottles of Chapel Down English wine for £6 and Pannier Brut champagne for £17.50.
During BA’s ‘golden age’, Robinson’s team – which included experts such as Hugh Johnson – tasted hundreds of wines before recommending a shortlist to be served to passengers.
Robinson stated that wines of first classification typically contained a claret top-classed in growth and white Burgundy premier cru.
BA said that it was looking for a ‘passionate individual with a strong knowledge of all drinks categories – particularly wine’.
Tom Stevens, BA’s director of brand and customer experience, told The Mail on Sunday in May: ‘From booking until landing, BA needs to feel like a premium experience.’