Barbados and British Airways celebrate 70th anniversary with the Barbadian rum, Mount Gay Rum Distilleries
For the first time ever, throughout April passengers onboard British Airways to Barbados are being served Mount Gay Rum for ‘a taste of Barbados at 38,000 feet’
London, UK, 23rd April, 2024: As Barbados and British Airways celebrate its 70th anniversary this April, to honour the significant milestone, they have partnered with Mount Gay, the world’s oldest-running rum distillery which is located in the north of the Island.
For the first time ever, passengers flying from the UK to Barbados in April are being treated to the rich flavours of Mount Gay, XO in First and Club World and Mount Gay, Eclipse in World Traveller Plus and World Traveller.
Mount Gay Rum, the oldest, most storied rum in the world, has been produced in Barbados with passion and unparalleled craftsmanship since 1703, thus earning it the title “the rum that invented rum”. Expertly crafted from the rich sugar cane and pristine, coral-filtered water native to the island, Mount Gay Rum is a spirit with a rich history and true character.
In addition to the onboard festivities, Barbados will host a prestigious evening reception at Ilaro Court, the official residence of the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P. | Prime Minister of Barbados on Wednesday 24th April. This exclusive event will welcome distinguished guests including, Hon Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados and Colm Lacy, Chief Commercial Officer for British Airways.
Also in attendance will be Mike Bannister, a now-retired Concorde captain, who has piloted many flights to the island including the final Concorde flight to Barbados. With BA’s Concorde operating for over 20 years, Barbados was one of the four countries with a regular Concorde flight, and on its last journey, it was sent to Bridgetown, Barbados, where it is now grounded as a relic of a bygone age of aviation.
Commenting on the momentous occasion, Hon Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados said: “We are very pleased to celebrate with British Airways the 70th Anniversary of their first flight to Barbados, for it is truly a momentous occasion. This platinum anniversary not only signifies British Airways’ dedication to Barbados but highlights the confidence the airline places on the island. British Airways has played a pivotal role in providing air connectivity between Barbados and the UK, thus driving growth and prosperity for the island and helping to build our tourism sector. This partnership has helped to solidify Barbados’ status as a premier travel destination.”
Cheryl Carter, Chief Operating Officer, BTMI said: “We are truly proud of our 70-year association with British Airways and the confidence they have demonstrated in the brand. We would like to thank Mount Gay for recognising and celebrating this significant milestone. We now look forward to celebrating our centenary with Barbados.”
Other elements of the platinum celebration will include, an exclusive Avios and Club Class promotion, familiarisation trips for media and top-selling UK travel agents, and other inflight activations.
Earlier this month, Barbados also welcomed one of the newest aircraft in the British Airways fleet, the 787-10 Dreamliner, which will increase summer capacity by 10-16% to the Caribbean island and further cement BA’s enduring legacy with Barbados.
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About Barbados
The island of Barbados is a Caribbean gem rich in cultural, heritage, sporting, culinary and eco experiences. It is surrounded by idyllic white sand beaches and is the only coral island in the Caribbean. With over 400 restaurants and eateries, Barbados is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.
The island is also known as the birthplace of rum, commercially producing and bottling the finest blends since the 1700s. In fact, many can experience the island’s historic rums at the annual Barbados Food and Rum Festival. The island also hosts events like the annual Crop Over Festival, where A-lists celebrities like our very own Rihanna are often spotted, and the annual Run Barbados Marathon, the largest marathon in the Caribbean. As the motorsport island, it is home to the leading circuit-racing facility in the English-speaking Caribbean. Known as a sustainable destination, Barbados was named one of the world’s Top Nature Destinations in 2022 by the Traveler’s Choice Awards’.
About British Airways
As a global airline and the UK’s flag carrier, British Airways has been flying its customers to where they need to be for more than 100 years. The airline connects Britain with the world and the world with Britain, operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks together with its joint business, codeshare and franchise partners. In September 2021, British Airways launched its sustainability programme, BA Better World, committing to put sustainability at the heart of everything it does and with a clear roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. British Airways is a founding member of the airline alliance oneworld, which serves around 1,000 destinations across the globe. British Airways flies to destinations in more than 65 countries. Its principal place of business is London, with its main home at Heathrow Terminal 5. For media inquiries, please contact: Americas.newsroom@ba.com.
