British Airways Celebrates 10 Years Flying to Austin with Limited-Edition BA-B-Q Sauce

British Airways is commemorating the 10th anniversary of its flight service between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

The airline has flown more than 1.25 million customers to and from Austin since launching its inaugural flight on March 3, 2014.

To mark this milestone, British Airways has partnered with Franklin Barbeque, a beloved Austin BBQ restaurant, to create a selection of limited-edition BBQ sauces. These sauces will be called BA-B-Q and gifted to Club World passengers flying from Austin to London throughout March.

“We’re excited to celebrate a decade of connecting Austin and London,” said Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer. “At British Airways, we’re committed to providing an exceptional and original experience for our customers, and we’re always looking for new ways to do that.”

“Bringing the flavors of Austin to the skies with this special menu is one way of us celebrating this remarkable city and expressing gratitude for the support we’ve received over the past ten years. And we can’t wait for customers to enjoy our limited-edition bottles of Franklin Barbecue’s Original BBQ sauce.”

The sauce will be showcased on board and will be a central element of the menu. Passengers in World Traveller will enjoy a succulent, smokey chicken BBQ dish complemented by rice and beans.

Club World and World Traveller Plus customers will be offered a lightly smoked beef brisket main with spiced bean stew, pickled cucumber, vegetable slaw, and sweet corn pudding.

Photo: Club Suite. Courtesy of British Airways

The in-flight menu has been curated by British Airways’ executive chef, Mark Brega, who worked with Franklin’s pitmaster and BBQ expert, Aaron Franklin, to create these mouthwatering dishes.

“Franklin Barbecue is a legendary establishment in Austin,” Mark commented. “Known for its long lines and mouthwatering brisket, it has earned a reputation as one of the best barbecue joints in the world.

“We are always looking for culinary inspiration in the cities we fly, so it was a delight to meet Aaron Franklin, learn from his passion and expertise, and share Franklin Barbecue’s Original BBQ sauce with our customers.”

Photo: Aaron Franklin and British Airways Executive Chef Mark Brega

Aaron Franklin repaid the compliment with some kind words: “We had such a good time hosting Mark and the team from British Airways. It’s an honor to help represent Austin as we celebrate ten years of a straight shot between these two great cities, and all kinds of fun to share this special sauce with British Airways travelers.”

British Airways flies nonstop to 26 cities in the U.S., and its Austin service is among its premium offerings.

Austin is serviced by the airline’s top-of-the-range Airbus A350-1000, its newest and most sustainable aircraft. Each A350 features the airline’s popular Club Suite – its very best business class cabin. The aircraft has 331 seats, including 112 Club World and World Traveler Plus seats.