Dnata serves custom menus for sports teams and VIP charters across the USA

Photo : Dubai Government Media Office

dnata, a global leader in air and travel services, specially prepared more than 15,000 meals for private jet customers flying across the USA and overseas throughout 2024. These meals ranged from VIP charters with regional delicacies and desserts to custom athletic portions for sports teams.

dnata’s Expanding Operations in the USA
dnata operates large catering kitchens in several major US cities, including Boston, New York, Nashville, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These kitchens provide inflight catering and retail services to over 100 airports across the country. The USA is now one of dnata’s biggest markets for private jet services, with demand for VIP flights continuing to grow.

To meet customer needs in cities without its own kitchens, dnata partners with top-rated local vendors, ensuring all flights receive high-quality catering.

Fueling Sports Teams Across the USA
dnata provides custom meals for several professional sports teams as they travel across the USA for games. These athletic portions are specially designed to meet the players’ dietary needs, with meals often featuring 10-12oz (285-340 grams) of protein to help with game preparation and recovery. One of the most popular dishes is the shrimp cocktail platter.

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For corporate jet travelers on shorter flights, dnata offers lighter options such as fruit, cheese, and seafood platters, along with finger sandwiches and cookie trays.

Special Menus for Royalty and VIPs
dnata also caters to royal families, celebrities, and high-profile clients, tailoring meals to their unique preferences. For example:

Middle Eastern royal families often request Arabic Mezze, Chicken Biryani, Patchi chocolates, and desserts from specialty shops in New York City.
Indian VIP clients prefer Mughlai dishes and other traditional Indian delicacies, sourced from top-rated Indian restaurants to ensure authenticity.
Some celebrities have very specific requests, like a famous R&B duo that always asks for a certain plant-based milk product.
On large jets, the catering can rival Michelin-starred restaurants, with dishes such as caviar, blinis, lobster platters, and meals topped with white and black shaved truffles.
Private Chefs for Exclusive In-Flight Service
dnata’s Catering & Retail team in the USA includes dedicated chefs who focus solely on serving private and corporate aviation customers. In some cases, these chefs even accompany flights on multi-stop tours across the country.

Thanks to dnata’s global network, customers can enjoy consistent, high-quality catering at every stop on their journey. Some of the busiest cities for private aviation include New York, London, Milan, Sydney, and Dubai.

Trusted by Global Governments
dnata also provides high-end catering for foreign government flights, royal delegations, and famous musicians.
In September 2024, during the United Nations General Assembly, dnata’s teams catered for up to 70 presidential aircraft departing from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York.

Commitment to Quality and Safety
Peter DeVito, CEO of dnata Catering & Retail USA, emphasized the company’s focus on quality. He said:

“We believe that every passenger deserves an unforgettable onboard dining experience. We are committed to providing top-tier cuisine for our VIP customers. Whether it’s a luxurious multi-course meal or a simple, personalized dish, we use only the freshest ingredients and pay close attention to every detail. In private aviation, excellence is the standard—and we are proud to set that standard.”

Creative and Flexible Menus
dnata’s catering teams regularly update their menus to offer unique and personalized dishes. The team meets with flight crews before each journey to discuss passenger preferences. This ensures the menus are tailored to specific tastes.

For example, a recent favorite dish was a Montauk-inspired lobster roll, which became highly requested on VIP flights.

Top-Level Food Safety
dnata places food safety as its top priority. It is one of the few VIP caterers with dedicated Halal kitchens and specialized teams in all its facilities. dnata’s chefs receive special training to prepare authentic Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines, ensuring proper handling and quality control.

The company strictly follows allergen safety protocols, including the segregation of 14 common allergens. For example, since peanuts are a serious allergen, dnata has made its facilities completely peanut-free. Instead, they offer almond butter and jelly sandwiches as a safer alternative.

Peter DeVito explained:

“Allergies and food safety are our biggest concerns. We have Food Safety Quality Assurance Managers and support staff at every location. Their job is to make sure we are serving safe, high-quality meals to our guests. We follow strict protocols to ensure our meals are safe and delicious.”

A Global Catering Leader
dnata’s Catering & Retail division is one of the world’s largest inflight hospitality providers. The company employs 10,500 catering professionals who produce over 110 million meals annually, serving:

Full-service carriers
Low-cost airlines
VIP and private jet services
With operations in more than 60 locations, dnata continues to set the standard for premium inflight catering, providing delicious and safe meals for travelers around the world.