SOME of the world’s wealthiest passengers will be offered Much Marcle cider as an alternative to champagne on flights.

Mark Catlin, of Lyne Down Cider, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, has just signed a contract to supply his cider to European Skyjets, which operates five Bombardier Learjets out of Farnborough.

His cider will be offered as part of the VIP hospitality package, alongside the finest French champagne and wines.

He said: “I can see orders coming in from celebrities! It’s a good shop window for me. Anyone who flies with European Skyjets has the chance to taste Lyne Down.”

European Skyjets started to operate this summer and is already flying to glamorous locations in Europe, including Cannes.

Mr Catlin expects to be delivering around 2,000 bottles a year to the airline.

Things are really starting to look up for Mr Catlin, who only took on Lyne Down Cider in 2005.

Then the turnover was around £3,000 a year but now it has soared to £75,000. He has recently taken on two wholesale distributors to boost sales further, Real Drinks of England of Canon Pyon and Blackberry Barn of Oxfordshire. Mr Catlin has already started to harvest his apples, the earliest the crop has been ready over three autumns.