KLM serves draft beer at 35,000 feet
By Tue Aug 30, 2016
KLM on Wednesday set a new first!
The Dutch airline became the first airline in the world to launch a draft-beer trolley on board and serve freshly tapped beer at 35,000 feet.
The unique draft-beer trolley is the result of a collaboration between KLM and Dutch brewer Heineken. Both companies worked for a long time on the draft-beer trolley and had targeted to introduce the concept already in July, but certification by the aviation authorities took longer than anticipated.
Joining forces with Heineken is part of the airline’s product vision in which the Netherlands takes center stage. KLM in recent years also has invested a lot in upgrading its inflight product.
The trolley was used for the first time on a scheduled flights between KLM’s hub at Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Curaçao aboard Boeing 747 aircraft. The draft beer was reserved for passengers travelling in KLM’s business class. Passengers also could enjoy a special Indonesian rice table as their meal.
How does it work?
The beer that is served from the draft trolley is delivered cold to the aircraft in kegs which are enclosed in highly-insulated shells. These keep the beer at the right temperature, guaranteeing cold draught beer is on tap throughout a hot flight. A select group of cabin personnel have received special training to pour perfect beer at altitude, which in no way differs from the draught beer passengers are used to on the ground.
It took KLM and Heineken years to develop the trolley, which carries a highly innovative keg. The “BrewLock” keg works on air pressure instead of CO2.
This is because air pressure in an aircraft cabin is very different from air pressure on the ground. The air pressure brings the “BrewLock” up to the right pressure, compensates for the low pressure onboard, and builds up the pressure at the tap.
“We are continuously innovating at Heineken to ensure our customers can enjoy a high-quality Heineken experience wherever they are. This new beer dispenser enables passengers to drink brewery quality draught beer fresh from the tap, making their journey even more spectacular,” says Lennart Boorsma, Marketing Manager Global Innovation at Heineken.
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