Emirates Elevates First Class Dining with Signature Caviar Ritual
Emirates is redefining luxury in the skies with an elevated caviar service ritual for its First Class customers, offering unlimited portions of premium Ossetra caviar sourced from leading producers across Persia and Poland.
The airline has reported a surge of more than 30 per cent in caviar consumption year-on-year, with its Dubai–London route topping the charts for demand, followed by services to Paris, Sydney, Moscow and Bangkok.
Caviar has long been regarded as the epitome of fine dining, and Emirates has developed a bespoke service ritual to honour its heritage and exclusivity. Onboard, cabin crew don white gloves and lay a crisp linen tablecloth before presenting customers with an Emirates-engraved caviar bowl. A Mother of Pearl spoon is provided to preserve the delicate flavour, accompanied by traditional garnishes including melba toast, blinis, egg yolk, egg white, chives, onion, sour cream and lemon.
The indulgence is paired with Dom Pérignon champagne, to which Emirates holds exclusive inflight serving rights globally. The champagne’s notes of toasted brioche and almond complement the caviar’s buttery, briny complexity, creating what the airline describes as a “perfect pairing.”
Emirates serves caviar from the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), a species native to Siberia’s great rivers. With a faster maturation cycle than other sturgeon, it provides a high-quality and more sustainable option for caviar farming. The roe, ranging in colour from dark grey to deep brown, is prized for its clean taste, smooth texture and mild brininess.
Once harvested, the caviar undergoes a meticulous preparation process: rinsed, salted, chilled, vacuum-packed, pasteurised and stored under strict conditions. In Dubai, Emirates’ supplier delivers caviar to the Emirates Flight Catering Facility three times weekly in temperature-controlled vehicles, maintaining conditions below 5°C. When ready to board, the delicacy is transported to aircraft in dedicated chauffeur-driven vehicles to ensure the cold chain remains intact.
Globally, Emirates’ approved caterers receive caviar directly from the airline’s supplier to uphold consistent quality across its network.
With 26,800 First Class seats available each week – the largest international First Class inventory in the industry – Emirates’ requirement for caviar is considerable. Yet, every serving is handled with precision to ensure customers enjoy the delicacy at its peak.
“Caviar is a celebration of rarity, taste and tradition, and we are proud to offer our customers not only unlimited portions but also a mindful ritual that respects its heritage,” said an Emirates spokesperson.
Emirates’ signature caviar service is complimentary for all First Class passengers across its global network, reinforcing the airline’s reputation for excellence in inflight dining.
