High-flying oenophiles will have to get used to sipping a slightly less fancy fizz when traveling with American Airlines.
The American carrier has decided to serve sparkling wine to business-class passengers on international flights instead of Champagne, as reported by Simple Flying. AA told Robb Report that its beverages are rotated quarterly to complement in-flight menus, but CEO Robert Isom did say that the airline was on the lookout for opportunities to save at an employee forum last year.
Fliers in business class will be served a Ferrari brut from Trentino, Italy, rather than bubbles from the famed French wine region. The brut in question is created with 100 percent Chardonnay grapes just like Ruinart’s signature Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Bubbles from the Trento DOC are also made the same way as the wines from the French appellation. As a result, the difference between the bottles is rather minimal, but discerning sippers will surely notice. (Champagne will still be served in first class.)
“This internationally-acclaimed sparkling wine is known worldwide for its exceptionally high standards demonstrated throughout its production methods and Ferrari’s organic and carbon-negative certifications,” a spokesperson for the airline told Robb Report via email.
AA isn’t the only carrier to axe Champagne, either. Finnair has also stopped serving French bubbles on their European flights, according to Simple Flying. Many airlines are still struggling to recover from pandemic-related losses, but AA had a blinder of a year in 2022.
“The American Airlines team has produced outstanding results over the past year,” Isom said in a statement regarding 2022’s financial results. “We’re proud to have led the industry in operational performance over the holidays while producing record full-year and fourth-quarter revenues, resulting in a third consecutive quarterly profit and a profit for the full year.”
Isn’t that worth raising a glass of Champagne to?