The perfect wine pairing can make or break a meal – all the more so when you’re 35,000 feet in the air. That’s why we’ve launched a brand new initiative to transform members of our cabin crew into certified Cathay Wine Ambassadors.

“When you talk about food, there’s always something else that comes into play: a beverage. For a lot of our passengers, it’s champagnes or wines – and a well-selected range of wines can enhance the dining experience,” says Ronald Khoo, Cathay’s Wine, Spirits & Beverages Manager.

We’ve turned to the WSET^® (Wine & Spirit Education Trust^®), the global leader in drinks education, to upskill members of our cabin crew – and upgrade your wine journey on our flights. The WSET^® Level 2 Award in Wines qualification is an internationally recognised certification that covers everything from varietals to tasting profiles and notes, as well as how to properly serve and store wines.

Our ultimate aim is to have one cabin crew member trained to WSET^® Level 2 on board each of our flights – equipping them with a rich knowledge of our inflight cellars and enhancing your inflight wine experience.

“With WSET^®’s systematic approach to tasting wines, cabin crew are equipped with a common language – and a bond that develops when speaking to passengers who love wine,” says Khoo.

The training has its own set of challenges – mostly logistical. Taking 200-300 cabin crew members at once out of staffing rotation for the extensive programme simply isn’t an option. Instead, our food and beverage team has worked closely with teams across the business to find the right balance – resulting in intimate classes held throughout the year.