STARLUX Airlines is redefining in-flight dining with an opulent wagyu sukiyaki kaiseki set, crafted in collaboration with the legendary Japanese sukiyaki restaurant Ningyocho Imahan.
Debuting in July 2024 on first and business class flights between Tokyo and Taipei, this meticulously curated meal is already a runaway success, with over 90% of passengers pre-selecting it by year-end.
The Art of In-Flight Kaiseki
The menu, six months in the making, was perfected through rigorous testing at gategourmet Japan’s Narita facility, which caters to 16 international airlines, including Emirates and Turkish Airlines. Imahan’s executive chefs, Takashi Sakamoto and Katsutoshi Aoki, personally oversaw every detail, ensuring each bite mirrors their renowned restaurant’s signature flavors.
A standout dish, Nanban Zuke Wakasagi, delicate Japanese smelt marinated to perfection—requires 16 hours of meticulous preparation. Seasonal garnishes like maple leaf-shaped carrots in autumn and plum blossoms in winter add a refined touch, ensuring that presentation is as exquisite as flavor. Every ingredient is hand-selected by gategourmet Japan to meet stringent safety and quality standards, reinforcing STARLUX’s commitment to an elite culinary experience.
Above and Beyond Standard In-Flight Dining
Since its launch in 2021, STARLUX has distinguished itself with high-end partnerships, starting with Hutong Yakiniku for economy class. As airline competitors enhance their offerings, STARLUX continues to push the envelope. Chairman Zhang Guowei has made it clear—staying ahead means constantly innovating. This philosophy drives collaborations like Imahan’s, setting a new benchmark for in-flight luxury.
Unlike airlines that outsource their menus, STARLUX ensures authenticity by sourcing all ingredients directly from Imahan, significantly increasing procurement costs. One of the biggest challenges? Replacing raw egg—essential to sukiyaki—with a soft-boiled alternative that preserves the dish’s integrity while meeting strict aviation food safety regulations. gategourmet Japan’s expert chefs worked alongside Imahan to refine textures and flavors, ensuring a seamless adaptation to high-altitude dining.
A Culinary Commitment to Excellence
By December 2024, gategourmet Japan had produced 5,000 Imahan meals, and the partnership continues to evolve. Each dish undergoes meticulous refinement, from adjusting the agar-agar ratio in yam jelly to balancing the richness of sukiyaki broth post-reheating. As gategourmet Japan’s Senior Account Manager Chang Suhao notes, STARLUX’s meals are among the most complex in the industry, requiring twice the preparation time and greater costs than comparable airline offerings.
Despite the investment, STARLUX remains unwavering in its pursuit of perfection. In a world where airline meals are often forgettable, this collaboration ensures that luxury travelers experience fine dining at cruising altitude. The skies have never tasted so good.
About gategroup
gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board and hospitality products and services. gategroup provides passengers with superior culinary and retail experiences, leveraging innovation and advanced technology solutions. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving passengers from over 200 operating units in over 60 countries/territories across all continents. For further information, please visit: www.gategroup.com
