American Airlines, one of the largest carriers in the US, has decided to replace Champagne with sparkling wine in its first and business class cabins on long-haul flights. The move is part of the airline’s cost-cutting measures, which have been implemented by its new CEO Robert Isom.
According to robbreport.com, American Airlines will serve Ferrari Brut Trento DOC, a sparkling wine from Trentino, Italy, instead of Champagne, a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France. The Italian wine is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes and has a similar production method to Champagne, but it is not as prestigious or expensive as the French wine.
The change was announced by American Airlines in a tweet, which said that the new wine selection was “carefully curated” to offer a “unique and delicious” experience to its premium customers. However, some passengers may not be happy with the downgrade, especially since the ticket prices remain high. For comparison, American Airlines used to serve Bollinger La Grande Année 2008, a highly rated Champagne that costs around $150 per bottle.
American Airlines is not the only airline that has switched from Champagne to sparkling wine. Finnair has also stopped serving Champagne on its European flights, citing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its finances. Other airlines, such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines, have continued to serve Champagne to their first and business class passengers, even during the crisis.
American Airlines has reported a profit for the third consecutive quarter and for the full year of 2022, thanks to its operational performance and revenue growth. However, the airline’s CEO has stressed the need to save money and avoid unnecessary spending. Whether this strategy will pay off in the long run or alienate its loyal customers remains to be seen.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, yahoo.com, robbreport.com
