Cocktail on the run

Available until March 2020, British Airways’ First and Club World customers travelling from San Francisco and Newark will be able to choose from a selection of 30 cocktails and customisable drinks from the robotic device. This includes locally-inspired cocktails that British Airways has created – Silicon Galley and Echo-Whisky-Romeo. The machine has been created by mix-master Barsys using Artificial Intelligence (AI).  As British Airways is the first UK airline to trial the technology, it gives the airline’s customers a first chance to try this autonomous machine. Customers simply order their drink by clicking one button on the app, then place a glass on the conveyer belt and let the AI do the work. Ricardo Vidal, British Airways’ Head of Innovation, said: “We are always looking at innovative ways to enhance our customers’ journey on the ground and in the air. Barsys offers a new cocktail experience and what better way to trial this technology than in San Francisco, in our newly refurbished lounge, and Newark, two of the most cosmopolitan and tech-savvy metropolitan regions in the US”. Akshet Tewari, Barsys CEO and Founder, said: "We are so excited to partner with British Airways as we have always felt that an airport lounge was the perfect place to create a unique and fun cocktail experience. We recognise that Barsys will never replace a good bartender but can free them up to make more complicated drinks and interact with customers”.