Burns Night on Board: Scottish Menu Ideas for Private Jet Catering from Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI)
Burns Night private jet catering brings one of Scotland's warmest traditions on board. Every 25 January, Scots and friends of Scotland around the world gather for a Burns Supper to celebrate the poet Robert Burns, born on that day in 1759: a piper, a few verses, a haggis carried in with ceremony and a table full of good company. For guests flying to a supper in Scotland, or celebrating in the air on the way, the menu can carry the whole spirit of the evening.
Global Diners prepares inflight catering in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports, including Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI), Glasgow (EGPF / GLA) and Inverness (EGPE / INV). This guide covers the shape of a Burns Supper, a complete Scottish menu that travels well, how to serve haggis gracefully in a business jet galley, alternatives for every dietary need, and the airports that bring guests to Scotland's great January celebrations.
The shape of a Burns Supper
A Burns Supper follows a familiar and much-loved order. Guests are welcomed, the Selkirk Grace is said, and the haggis is piped in and greeted with Burns's poem Address to a Haggis before it is cut and served. After the meal come the Immortal Memory, a speech in honour of the poet, the light-hearted Toast to the Lassies and its reply, and the evening closes with everyone singing Auld Lang Syne.
On board, the ceremony naturally becomes more intimate, but its rhythm works beautifully in a cabin. A short grace, a few lines of the Address read by a guest and the haggis presented on a fine plate are enough to turn a flight into a celebration. Our team prepares every course so that the cabin crew can serve it calmly, at the right moment of the flight.
Course | Traditional dish | Global Diners suggestion on board |
Starter | Cock-a-leekie or Cullen skink | Soup packed in insulated containers with reheating guidance |
Fish course | Scottish smoked salmon | Smoked salmon from the menu card with oatcakes and lemon |
Main course | Haggis, neeps and tatties | Individual portions, with the sauce packed separately |
Dessert | Cranachan | Raspberries, toasted oats, honey and cream, assembled on board |
Cheese | Scottish cheeses and oatcakes | A cheese selection with chutney and shortbread |
A Scottish menu that travels well
The Scottish larder is one of the finest in Europe, and a Burns Night menu is a perfect showcase for it. Many of its classics are naturally suited to a galley: soups that reheat gently, smoked fish served chilled, and desserts assembled at the last moment.
Soups: cock-a-leekie with leeks and chicken, or Cullen skink, the creamy smoked haddock soup from the Moray coast.
From the sea: Scottish smoked salmon, langoustines and hand-dived scallops, served chilled or lightly warmed.
Main course: haggis with neeps (mashed swede) and tatties (mashed potatoes), or Aberdeen Angus beef for guests who prefer it.
Dessert: cranachan, clootie dumpling, or shortbread and tablet with coffee.
Menu card favourites: caviar, smoked salmon, cheese and pastries.
Every item is labelled for allergens, sauces are packed separately and reheating guidance accompanies each hot dish. Halal, kosher and alcohol-free menus are available, and a single malt for the toasts, wine or champagne can be added subject to local rules.
Serving haggis gracefully in a business jet galley
Haggis is a wonderfully forgiving dish to serve at altitude, because it reheats evenly and keeps its texture. A few simple habits help the cabin crew present it at its best.
Reheat the haggis, neeps and tatties in their individual containers, following the guidance supplied with each dish.
Warm the sauce separately and pour it at the table, so every plate looks fresh.
Present one whole portion on a fine plate for the Address, then serve individual portions to each guest.
Assemble the cranachan just before dessert, layering cream, raspberries and toasted oats in glasses.
Keep oatcakes, shortbread and cheese at cabin temperature, ready for the toasts that follow the meal.
A Burns Supper is about warmth and good company, and a well-planned galley lets both travel with the guests.
Our guide to galley catering on private jets covers reheating and presentation in more detail, and our article on private jet catering in Scotland for golf trips shows the Scottish larder in its summer setting.
Vegetarian, halal and kosher alternatives
Burns Night is for everyone at the table. Vegetarian haggis, made with lentils, oats, vegetables and spices, has become a much-loved part of modern Burns Suppers and can be prepared on request. For guests following halal or kosher menus, our team can suggest a festive Scottish-inspired alternative, such as roast salmon or a slow-cooked lamb dish with neeps and tatties, and every dish is clearly labelled. Children usually enjoy the tatties, the shortbread and the cranachan without any persuasion.
Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands and beyond
Burns Night takes place in the heart of the Scottish winter, and guests often combine it with a few days in the country. Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI) opens the way to the capital's historic Old Town and to the coast of East Lothian. Glasgow (EGPF / GLA) is the gateway to Ayrshire, the poet's own country, where his birthplace cottage stands in Alloway. Inverness (EGPE / INV) serves the Highlands and Loch Ness, and Aberdeen (EGPD / ABZ) welcomes guests to Royal Deeside. From the south, Farnborough (EGLF / FAB) is a natural departure point for London-based guests. With one team preparing every leg, preferences and allergies travel with the itinerary.
Burns Suppers are also held far beyond Scotland, from London to Dubai, Hong Kong and New York, wherever Scottish communities and their friends gather. Wherever the supper takes place, our kitchens can prepare the same menu for the flight, and our guide to winter destinations for private jet catering has more ideas for the season.
Coming soon: the Global Diners client portal
The Global Diners client portal is coming very soon. It is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance. Until it opens, every request goes through order@globaldiners.com.
Event Weeks at Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI): Private Jet Catering in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and financial centre, and its airport handles steady corporate traffic year round. Its calendar has several lively highlights. In these periods, order a little earlier than the usual 24 hours, confirm passenger numbers as soon as possible, agree the delivery time with your FBO or handler, and choose warming dishes in thermal carriers for winter departures or chilled platters for summer flights.
Event | When | Where |
Edinburgh's August festivals | August | Venues across Edinburgh |
Royal Highland Show | June | Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, beside the airport |
Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield | February to March | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh |
Hogmanay | Late December to early January | Edinburgh city centre |
Summer golf season | May to September | St Andrews, East Lothian and Fife |
Edinburgh's August festivals at Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI): August
The Edinburgh International Festival and the Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, run side by side through August, with the Book Festival alongside. Performers, producers, sponsors and audiences arrive from around the world, and the city is at its most exciting. Order a little ahead, keep menus flexible, and favour individually packed boxes and finger food. Scottish smoked salmon, oatcakes and Scottish cheeses are available on request.
Festival and fixture dates in Edinburgh shift each year, so check the latest timings with our team when you book.
Dining and shopping near Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI)
Edinburgh has a strong fine-dining scene, much of it in Leith on the waterfront, and menus showcase Scottish langoustines, scallops, salmon, Aberdeen Angus beef, game and haggis. For shopping, George Street and Multrees Walk host luxury brands, Princes Street has department stores, and the curving Victoria Street is lined with independent shops. Tartan, cashmere, Harris Tweed and single malt whisky are classic purchases to take home.
Local flavours for flights from Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI)
Scotland's larder is famous for its quality. Scottish smoked salmon, langoustines, hand-dived scallops and Aberdeen Angus beef are prized across the world, and haggis, Cullen skink, a creamy smoked haddock soup, and Arbroath smokies are national dishes. Oatcakes, shortbread, tablet and cranachan, a dessert of raspberries, cream, honey and oats, are classic sweets. Scotch whisky comes in many regional styles, and Irn-Bru is the country's iconic soft drink. For the cabin, smoked salmon with oatcakes, chilled langoustines and Scottish cheeses make a strong cold selection. Haggis canapés offer a local touch, and Cullen skink can be supplied for reheating. Shortbread is ideal with tea. Whisky pairings and pick-up from Edinburgh restaurants are available on request.
Also on the Global Diners network: Inverness (EGPE / INV)
Inverness Airport is at Dalcross on the shore of the Moray Firth, east of Inverness, the administrative and commercial centre of the Scottish Highlands. Business aviation here is strongly seasonal and leisure-led: golfers heading for Castle Stuart, Nairn and Royal Dornoch, families with Highland estates, shooting and stalking parties, salmon anglers on the Ness, Beauly and Spey, and visitors touring Loch Ness, the Cairngorms and the north coast. Business flights serve the energy, renewables, life sciences and public sectors. Summer and early autumn are the liveliest months, and winter brings occasional ski and Hogmanay trips.
Loch Ness, a short drive south-west, offers cruises from Dochgarroch and Fort Augustus and the ruins of Urquhart Castle on its shore. The Moray Firth is one of the best places in Britain to watch bottlenose dolphins, especially from Chanonry Point on the Black Isle. Golfers play Castle Stuart beside the airport, the links at Nairn and Royal Dornoch to the north. The Cairngorms National Park, around an hour south, has hillwalking, mountain biking and winter skiing. Salmon fishing on the Ness and Beauly, distillery tours and the North Coast 500 driving route are also popular.
FBOs at every airport in this guide
Here are the business aviation terminals (FBOs) at each airport mentioned above. Our team coordinates every catering delivery with the FBO or handler you choose, and our own kitchens deliver planeside at Paris (LFPB / LBG) and Nice (LFMN / NCE).
Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI): Signature Aviation
Inverness (EGPE / INV): Highland Aviation, Signature Aviation and The Highland Jet Centre
Glasgow (EGPF / GLA): Gama Aviation Executive Terminal and Signature Aviation
Aberdeen (EGPD / ABZ): Signature Aviation
Farnborough (EGLF / FAB): Farnborough Airport Ltd
Frequently asked questions
When is Burns Night?
Burns Night is celebrated every year on 25 January, the birthday of the poet Robert Burns. We recommend ordering 24 hours ahead as standard, and a little earlier for the Burns Night weekend.
Can haggis be served on a private jet?
Yes. Haggis, neeps and tatties are supplied in individual portions with the sauce packed separately and reheating guidance, so the cabin crew can serve them beautifully in the galley.
Is vegetarian haggis available for Burns Night flights?
Yes. Vegetarian haggis can be prepared on request, and halal and kosher menus are available with a festive Scottish-inspired alternative.
Can whisky be served for the Burns Night toasts?
A single malt, wine or champagne can be added subject to local rules, and alcohol-free menus are also available.
Can I order catering at Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI) during the August festivals?
Yes, catering at Edinburgh Airport (EGPH / EDI) runs throughout the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe in August, the city's liveliest month. During the festival weeks, ordering a little early is recommended. Light menus, Scottish platters and late-evening snacks for after performances are popular choices.
Can Global Diners provide catering for a golf trip to St Andrews via Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI)?
Yes, Global Diners caters flights to and from Edinburgh Airport (EGPH / EDI) for golf groups visiting St Andrews, East Lothian and other Scottish courses. Popular options include hearty breakfasts, Scottish smoked salmon, cold beef, cheese boards and shortbread. Whisky can be added on request, subject to local rules, and our team confirms timing with each quote.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Edinburgh (EGPH / EDI)
Private jet catering in Glasgow (EGPF / GLA)
Private jet catering in Inverness (EGPE / INV)
Planning a Burns Night flight?
From the Selkirk Grace to Auld Lang Syne, Global Diners brings one menu, the best of the Scottish larder and our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports to every Burns Night journey. Send your flight details and our specialised team will prepare a dedicated quote.
To request a quote, email order@globaldiners.com with your aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count. Our specialised team replies with a dedicated quote for your mission.
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