All Nippon Airways (ANA) will welcome two renowned Japanese chefs to its acclaimed The Connoisseurs programme in December 2025.
Shuto Sugita of Ginza L’écrin and Yasunori Kitajima of Kamakura Kitajima will create exclusive Japanese and French creations for First and Business class diners on select international routes from December 2025 until November 2026.
Chef Sugita’s dishes will be served on flights from December 2025 until February 2026 on ANA’s routes to Europe and North America. Chef Kitajima’s dishes will be served on those routes from September to November.
ANA introduced The Connoisseurs in September 2013 to enhance inflight dining experience through collaborations with top culinary talent.
Guided by a team of 16 chefs, beverage experts and ANA culinary specialists, the programme has earned consistent praise for its approach to inflight cuisine.
ANA’s international meals have received APEX’s World Class recognition for their exceptional quality and flavours, marking the airline’s second consecutive recognition as of September 2025.
ANA’s pre-order meal service allows First and Business class travellers to select their preferred Japanese or Western cuisine up to 24 hours before departure, including these exclusive new meals.
Using Pre-order Meal Service also allows passengers the opportunity to enjoy ‘The Connoisseurs’ menu on select routes from Japan to Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and India. With ‘The Connoisseurs’, ANA continues its commitment to delivering a world-class fine dining experience.
“ANA is deeply honoured that our international inflight meals, curated under the expertise of The Connoisseurs have earned the prestigious APEX World Class recognition for the second consecutive year,” said Tomoji Ishii, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience Management and Planning of ANA.
“The achievement reflects our commitment to delivering sophisticated, high-quality flavours tailored for air travel. As we continue to elevate our dining experience, we are delighted to welcome two exceptional new chefs to ‘The Connoisseurs’. Our goal remains to provide our passengers with innovative cuisine and unforgettable moments during their journey,” he continued.
