Inside McDonald’s weird plans to expand into TRAVEL as they launched McPlanes, McTrains and McBoats
MCDONALD'S once launched McPlanes, McTrains and McBoats in an attempt to expand its much-loved range.
The fast-food chain served Big Macs on jets and trains, and even opened two floating restaurants for Maccies lovers to get their fix.
In 1980 the chain made waves with its first water restaurant.
It opened the floating food joint in an old-fashioned paddle steamer on the banks Mississippi River.
The McBoat was a hit and could sit 134 customers inside and 200 more on open-air decks.
At the time, McDonald's real estate manager told the : "We have nothing like this in the whole world."
Read more on world news
The floating restaurant stayed open for two decades before it was closed in 2000.
Another boat, which was dubbed McBarge, opened for six months in 1986.
said the Canadian restaurant was said to have been able to play host to 1,400 diners over two decks.
In the years that followed the chain launched a McTrain.
Most read in The Sun
It teamed up with Germany's rail service and offered moving restaurant carriages in 1993.
The foodie carriage sported the well-known golden arches, could seat 27 people inside and offered Maccies' favourites.
It also offered two four-course meals to passengers in first class, but that ended up being extended to all.
But, it was quickly wrapped up within just two years as it was said to have failed to bring in customers as it was initially thought it would.
The following year McDonald's partnered up with a Swiss private air charter company Crossair and your company Hotelplan to take to the skies.
The aircraft was kitted out with red seats and the golden arches, while the outside was bright red.
A trolley service was offered up the aisles and air hosts and hostesses would hand out Big Macs in a box.
On top of the Maccies meal, jet setters were given souvenirs, a certificate and toys for youngsters.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Ralf Pieprzyk, who worked for Crossair when the McPlane launched, revealed that the meals were not from a traditional McDonald's supplier and they had to be custom-made so they could be "stored and served later in cruise flight".
He added: "[It was a] great idea, our customers and planespotters loved it."
