British Airways has appointed a full-time Master of Wine to elevate the premium experience for its customers both on the ground and in the air

British Airways has appointed a full-time Master of Wine, Tim Jackson MW, to elevate the premium experience for its customers both on the ground and in the air.

British Airways’ Master of Wine will play a vital role in selecting and tasting potential new wines, curating menu descriptions, developing the airline’s wider drinks strategy and sourcing a diverse range of wines from across the globe for customers to enjoy. 

As well as carefully selecting fine wines and sparkling options, the Master of Wine will also lead the selection of the airline’s drinks portfolio across its lounges and on board.  This includes championing the best of British beers, promoting classic gins and rolling out innovative non-alcoholic alternatives. A large part of the role will also include a sustained focus on taking into consideration differences in flavours, as well as taste and structure changes of beverages at altitude.

Sajida Ismail, Director of Onboard Experience at British Airways, said: “We are really excited to have Tim at British Airways. His knowledge and expertise play an integral role in our efforts to continue to deliver the premium experience that our customers look for when they fly with us and offer products that our colleagues are proud to serve.

“Going forward, we also have lots of exciting plans that will champion new drink offerings and celebrate the global network that we fly to.”

Tim Jackson, British Airways’ Master of Wine said: “I’m delighted to be the first person to take this position at British Airways. As an avid traveller, I have sampled wine from all corners of the globe, ranging from California to Chile, so I hope my love for travel, together with my experience and knowledge of beverages, will make a positive difference to the premium experience we offer our customers.”

The scruffy-looking Jackson studied Chemistry at the University of Oxford and went on to achieve a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from London Business School. Tim joined the Master of Wine study programme in late 2013, passing all three parts of the exams by 2017. He pursued his wine career full time in 2018 and subsequently joined British Airways this year to bring his expertise to enhance the airline’s customer experience further.  He is now only one of is one of 415 Masters of Wine (MWs) in the world today.