Air Canada has partnered with Michelin-starred Chef Masaki Hashimoto to introduce elevated dining experiences in its Signature Class on all flights between Canada and Japan. Chef Hashimoto, the owner of Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto in Toronto, brings his expertise in the traditional art of Kaiseki cuisine to the airline’s premium service.
His exclusive dishes debuted on 1 March 2025, offering passengers a rotating selection of six recipes annually. The curated menu includes Zensai (appetizers) such as sautéed lotus root, Komono (side dishes) like sesame tofu with wasabi sauce, and Oshokuji (main courses) featuring beef sukiyaki with simmered tofu, scallions, napa cabbage, and red ginger, served with calrose rice and miso soup. A brunch casserole is also served before landing. From spring 2025, Air Canada will further enhance the experience with traditional Japanese dishware curated by Chef Hashimoto in collaboration with Noritake.
Scott O’Leary, Vice President of Loyalty and Product at Air Canada, highlighted the significance of the partnership.
“We are proud to present Chef Hashimoto’s exceptional culinary artistry in our Signature Class experience. His journey and dedication to Kaiseki cuisine have enriched Canada’s culinary landscape, and we are honoured to celebrate this onboard,” he said.
The onboard dining experience will be complemented by a premium sake pairing selected by Chef Hashimoto’s son, Kei Hashimoto, a certified Kiki sake-shi (sake sommelier) accredited by the Sake Service Institute in Tokyo. The featured sake, Ninki-ichi Junmai Daiginjo Gold, is made from Gohyakumankoku sake rice and is recognised for its clean, crisp character with floral and fruity notes.
Chef Hashimoto expressed his excitement about the collaboration.
“It has always been a lifelong dream of mine to bring an authentic Japanese in-flight dining experience to travellers. Partnering with Air Canada is truly an honour for me, as it brings together the two places I now call home—Japan and Canada,” he said.
Air Canada offers the highest number of flights between Canada and Japan, with up to six daily flights connecting Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal to Narita, Haneda, and Osaka. The partnership with Chef Hashimoto aligns with the airline’s broader efforts to enhance its in-flight food and beverage offerings. In 2024, Air Canada launched its largest-ever menu upgrade, adding more than 100 new dishes, expanded snack selections, and complimentary beer and wine offerings.
This initiative further strengthens Air Canada’s commitment to delivering a premium travel experience and elevating its Signature Class dining service.
