BrewDog launches craft beer airline
Is BrewDog aiming to become the next Virgin group – the conglomerate that flogs everything from drinks to flowers and airline tickets? As of 2019, BrewDog will be taking to the skies with the launch of its own airline. In fact, the Scottish brewer has only announced a single round trip from London Stanstead to Columbus, Ohio, and only shareholders in BrewDog (they are called Equity Punks) are eligible to buy a ticket.
As BrewDog says in a post (25 October 2018), they have chartered a Boeing 767 that will run its maiden flight on 21 February 2019. The jet will cruise from London to Columbus, giving their Equity Punk passengers a chance to see their US brewery and get “the mother and father of all exclusive tours”.
On board, passengers will take part in the world’s highest ever beer tasting at altitude with a specially developed, new beer. The plane will also be stocked with a BrewDog-inspired food menu and all courses will be paired with BrewDog’s beers, served by Cicerone-trained cabin crew. After the meal service passengers can relax while watching BrewDog’s own video-on-demand service, BrewDog Network.
In Columbus, shareholders will be treated to two days of beery fun, including visits to bars, restaurants and breweries in BrewDog’s adopted US hometown. The flight returns from Columbus on 25 February 2019 and arrives in London the next day.
The plane can only hold 210 people – which means bench class for all. Tickets cost GBP 1,250 (USD 1,600) per person, including accommodation and excursions. There is also a prize draw for five winners (each for two tickets).
BrewDog’s co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie launched their pioneering crowdfunding initiative, Equity for Punks, in 2010. So far, they have raised over GBP 67 million (USD 85 million) in five rounds from over 94,000 shareholders. This has allowed them “to scale up without selling out” as they like to put it.
