British Airways makes major change to drinks on flights and in lounges

British Airways has made a major change to its hot drinks option on flights thanks to a new partnership.

The major airline has teamed up with British tea producer Birchall to offer customers a carefully curated range of teas both in the air and on the ground. British Airways serves almost 40 million cups of tea onboard every year and says its new tea provider is "the right choice for its customers", having been chosen for its performance in blind taste testing, as well as its British roots and sustainability credentials. The Birchall string and tag teabags are made from plant-based fibres in a fully solar-powered tea factory.

The airline began serving Birchall tea on all long-haul flights from May, with the Great Rift English Breakfast, Early Grey, Peppermint, Lemongrass and Ginger, and Camomile, among others, featuring in the line-up of flavour options.

As of June, the range is now also being served onboard all short-haul flights in Club Europe (short-haul business class) so customers can enjoy the tea when travelling across Europe and beyond.

The brew variations include Great Rift Breakfast Blend, Decaffeinated English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint, Camomile and Green Tea.

The rollout will extend further from July, with the tea to be made available to customers travelling in Euro Traveller (economy) on flights from London Heathrow via the airline's High Life Café next month, as well as being offered 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."

Daniel Graham, Managing Director of Birchall Tea, added: "We are immensely proud to be supplying tea for British Airways, which is the epitome of British quality and service; which is something incredibly important to us as well. We hope British Airways' customers enjoy this elevated tea experience in the air and on the ground for years to come."

The full tea menu on British Airways flights, based on travel classes, is as follows:

First

• Great Rift English Breakfast
• Great Rift Decaffeinated
• Virunga Earl Grey
• Darjeeling
• Mao Feng Green
• Camomile Flowers
• Peppermint Leaves
• Red Berry & Flower
• Lemongrass and Ginger

Club World (long-haul business class)

• English Breakfast
• Decaffeinated Tea
• Earl Grey Tea
• Green Tea
• Red Berry & Flower
• Camomile
• Peppermint
• Lemongrass & Ginger

World Traveller Plus and World Traveller (premium economy and economy)

• English Breakfast
• Decaffeinated Tea

Club Europe (UK and European business class)

• Great Rift English Breakfast
• Decaffeinated Tea
• Earl Grey Tea
• Green Tea
• Camomile
• Peppermint