Airline serves McDonald’s coffee on flights

McDONALD’S is reaching for the skies. A huge airline will now serve Macca’s coffee on flights — and Big Macs and McNuggets could be set to follow.

MACCA’S is most famous for Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets, not coffee.

However, in a world first, the fast food giant’s signature brew has taken to the skies. McDonalds has partnered with Canadian airline WestJet, who will now serve McCafe Premium Roast Coffee as part of the complimentary in-flight cabin service on domestic flights as well as limited international flights to England and Scotland. The first cups were served this week on the four-hour flight from Toronto to Calgary. To make the coffee taste the same in the air as it does on the ground, the recipe was tweaked slightly. The airline will use a darker roast of bean and hotter brewing temperature to make up for the fact that passengers’ tastebuds are significantly duller at high altitudes. In fact, their sensitivity can be reduced by up to 30 per cent in a pressurised cabin. Alfred Portale, a chef working at a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York, designed recipes for Singapore Airlines. He said “aggressive seasoning” was critical to make up the difference. “The result is a uniquely rich, bold taste of McCafé Premium Roast Coffee that will surprise and delight guests on Westjet flights,” the airline said in a statement. Starbucks and Canadian coffee chain Tim Horton’s also bid for the contract, but it’s believed Macca's was chosen for price and their work with WestJet’s children’s charities. McDonald’s Canada boss John Betts said he’s always believed “the sky is the limit for McCafe”. “We’re proud that Canadians have welcomed McCafé into their homes and daily routines, and now our partnership with WestJet lets us take this connection to even greater heights for Canadian coffee lovers,” he said. The airline says it will serve around 30,000 cups of McCafe coffee each day in a specially-designed cup, which will feature the chain’s rewards collector card. Airline boss Gregg Satetsky says if they get the coffee right, there’s no reason why the wouldn’t team-up to serve Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets in the future.