dnata dishes up exclusive in-flight dining for VIPs, royalty, and sports teams across US
Tailored in-flight meals ensure luxury and nutrition at 40,000 feet
DUBAI: dnata, a global leader in air and travel services, delivered over 15,000 specially crafted meals for private jet customers travelling across the United States and overseas in 2024. These meals ranged from athletic-sized portions for professional sports teams to gourmet regional delicacies for VIP charters.
Operating from kitchens in major US cities, including Boston, New York, Nashville, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, dnata provides in-flight catering and retail services to over 100 airports.
The US remains one of its largest markets for corporate jet services, with an ever-growing demand for luxury travel dining. Additionally, dnata collaborates with premium vendors to ensure top-tier catering in locations where its kitchens are unavailable.
Power meals for athletes
dnata’s catering service plays a crucial role in fuelling professional sports teams as they crisscross the country. These specially designed meals cater to high-performance nutritional needs, with players often served protein-rich dishes, such as shrimp cocktail platters featuring 10-12oz (285-340 grams) of protein per portion. The menus are crafted to support recovery and peak performance, with carefully balanced meals designed in consultation with expert nutritionists.
Meanwhile, corporate jet passengers on shorter flights favour lighter options such as fruit and cheese platters, seafood selections, and assorted gourmet sandwiches. Cookie trays and bespoke appetisers remain popular among high-profile clients travelling on private charters.
Gourmet requests at 40,000 feet
For royalty and elite clientele, in-flight meals are more than sustenance—they are an experience. Middle Eastern royal families frequently order Arabic Mezze, Chicken Biryani, Patchi chocolates, and specialty desserts sourced from premier New York patisseries. Indian VIP guests often request traditional Mughlai dishes and other regional delicacies from high-end Indian restaurants.
Celebrities add their own flair to the mix, with some requiring highly specific items, such as a famous R&B duo that exclusively orders a particular plant-based milk brand. Larger jets with high-profile passengers may demand Michelin-star-level dining, including caviar, blinis, lobster platters, and meals finished with white and black truffles.
Private chefs on board
dnata’s dedicated chefs ensure that every private and corporate aviation customer receives restaurant-quality service, whether on short-haul or long-haul flights. Some chefs even accompany VIP clients on multi-stop country-wide tours, overseeing the dining experience from take-off to touchdown.
With dnata’s global reach, customers can enjoy seamless gourmet catering across multiple destinations, including key private aviation hubs such as New York, London, Milan, Sydney, and Dubai. As demand for private aviation dining continues to rise, dnata remains at the forefront, redefining luxury dining at altitude.