Farnborough Airshow Private Jet Catering: Show Week Guide for Farnborough (EGLF / FAB)
Farnborough Airshow private jet catering is a special kind of assignment. Every two years, in July of even-numbered years, the Farnborough International Airshow brings the global aerospace industry to Hampshire: manufacturers, airlines, defence ministries, suppliers and investors meet for a week of announcements, meetings and flying displays. Farnborough (EGLF / FAB) sits at the heart of it all, and business jets carry delegations, executives and customers to and from the show.
Global Diners prepares VVIP inflight catering in our own kitchens in Paris, Nice and Madrid and in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports, including every London business aviation airport. This guide covers show-week planning, menus for delegation flights, hospitality on board aircraft on static display, British flavours and how London Biggin Hill (EGKB / BQH), London Luton (EGGW / LTN) and London City (EGLC / LCY) complete the picture.
Show week at a glance
The airshow traditionally opens with five trade days, from Monday to Friday, when exhibitors, delegations and customers fill the halls and chalets, followed by public days at the weekend. Flying displays take place each afternoon. Business aviation activity follows the same rhythm, with arrivals over the preceding weekend and departures from Thursday onwards.
Moment | Typical flights | Menu ideas from Global Diners |
Weekend before the show | Manufacturer teams, delegations and executives arriving | Arrival menus, crew meals and welcome boxes for the week |
Trade days, Monday to Friday | Day trips from Paris, Geneva, Germany and the Gulf | Working breakfasts, business lunches and evening return menus |
Static display hospitality | Customer tours on board demonstration aircraft | Canapés, coffee service, pastries and refreshments for guests on board |
Public weekend and return home | Families, enthusiasts and executives flying home | Relaxed family menus, sharing boards and afternoon tea |
During show week, we recommend ordering a little earlier than the usual 24 hours and confirming passenger numbers and delivery times as soon as schedules are set. Our team then agrees every delivery calmly with your FBO or handler.
Menus for delegation and executive flights
Airshow delegations often fly in for a single trade day packed with meetings. The menu should help them prepare on the way in and relax on the way home.
Working breakfast: viennoiseries, Bircher muesli, smoked salmon on rye, eggs and fresh fruit, with excellent coffee.
Business lunch on board: salads, poached salmon, roast chicken, sandwiches on fresh bread and a cheese plate.
Evening return: a warm main course such as beef fillet, sea bass or a vegetarian risotto, followed by a summer dessert.
Delegation boards: sharing platters of charcuterie, British cheeses, crudités and dips for teams who keep working together.
Individually labelled trays: each guest's name and allergens marked clearly, ideal for official delegations.
Halal, kosher and alcohol-free menus are available, which is often appreciated on government and defence delegation flights. Our guide to government and diplomatic flight catering covers protocol considerations in more detail.
Hospitality on board aircraft on static display
Manufacturers and operators often welcome customers on board their aircraft on static display. A cabin tour is the perfect moment for refined hospitality: a coffee and pastry service in the morning, chilled refreshments and canapés in the afternoon, and Champagne for a signing, subject to local rules. We prepare compact, elegant presentations that suit a cabin used as a showroom, and coordinate deliveries with the operator's team and handler.
Morning tour service: mini viennoiseries, fruit skewers, coffee and tea.
Afternoon canapés: smoked salmon blinis, Coronation chicken tartlets, cucumber sandwiches and mini scones.
Signing celebration: a small cake decorated with your message, macarons and petits fours.
Refreshments: still and sparkling water, fresh juices and elderflower pressé.
At an airshow, the cabin becomes a showroom: every canapé, every cup of coffee and every detail of the service tells guests something about the aircraft.
British summer flavours
July is the height of the English summer, and its produce is a delight on board. Strawberries and cream, English asparagus at the start of the season, Cornish crab, Scottish smoked salmon, new potatoes with mint, and lamb from the Welsh hills all bring a sense of place to the menu. Afternoon tea, with finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and jam, is always a favourite for the flight home. Our article on catering for major events shares more ideas for event weeks.
Crew meals and the wider London network
Crews often stay in the area for the whole week. Balanced crew meals with grilled fish or chicken, salads, grain bowls and fresh fruit, labelled individually, keep everyone at their best. If your aircraft is based at another London airport during the show, our routine is identical at Biggin Hill, Luton, London City and London Stansted (EGSS / STN). Our London airports guide compares them in detail.
How to order airshow catering
Email order@globaldiners.com with the aircraft registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count.
Add dietary needs, allergies and VIP preferences in the same message.
Order a little earlier than the usual 24 hours during show week, and confirm numbers as soon as schedules are set.
Receive your dedicated quote and a written confirmation from our specialised team.
Our team coordinates the delivery time with your FBO or handler at Farnborough (EGLF / FAB) or your London airport.
For delegations continuing to Paris, our own kitchen at Paris Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG) delivers planeside, which makes Farnborough and Paris an easy pairing for European tours.
Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire Event Season: VIP Catering at Farnborough (EGLF / FAB)
Event | When | Where |
Farnborough International Airshow | July, even-numbered years | Farnborough Airport |
Royal Ascot | June | Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire |
Wimbledon Championships | Late June to mid-July | All England Lawn Tennis Club, south-west London |
Henley Royal Regatta | Late June to early July | Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire |
Goodwood Festival of Speed and Glorious Goodwood | July to early August | Goodwood Estate, West Sussex |
Christmas and New Year holidays | Mid-December to early January | Departures to the Alps, the Caribbean and the Middle East |
Henley Royal Regatta at Farnborough (EGLF / FAB): Late June to early July
Many guests stay in the Thames Valley and fly from Farnborough at the end of the week. Picnic-style hampers with pies, terrines, salads and cakes translate easily to the cabin. Allow an extra day of notice during regatta week and confirm the final guest count once the week's plans are settled.
Race meetings, regattas and show dates move slightly each year, so check the confirmed dates with our team as part of your order.
Local flavours for flights from Farnborough (EGLF / FAB)
Farnborough sits close to some of England's best farmland and rivers, which suits classic British cabin service. Afternoon tea is a favourite: finger sandwiches of cucumber, egg and cress or smoked salmon, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and a selection of small cakes, all of which travel well in tiered boxes. Hampshire is known for watercress, grown in its chalk streams, and for trout from rivers such as the Test, which can be served hot-smoked with horseradish cream. A full English breakfast, bacon rolls or kippers suit morning departures, while a British cheese board might include Cheddar, Stilton, Wensleydale and Hampshire soft cheeses. Seasonal English strawberries in June and July, game in autumn and Cornish crab salads are popular additions. Our kitchens prepare the trays, and pick-up from London restaurants is available on request.
Also on the Global Diners network: London Biggin Hill (EGKB / BQH)
Biggin Hill sits at the edge of Kent, known as the Garden of England, so seasonal produce is a strength. Kentish cherries and strawberries in June and July, apples and pears in autumn, and Kentish cobnuts in late summer appear in desserts, salads and cheese boards. Oysters from Whitstable on the north Kent coast are a traditional delicacy and can be supplied on request in season, while Dover sole is a classic for formal dining. A full English breakfast, bacon rolls and sausage sandwiches suit morning departures, and Kentish ham, pork pies and Scotch eggs make solid cold platters. Afternoon tea, with finger sandwiches, scones and clotted cream, is popular for afternoon flights. Cheeses from Kent and Sussex, alongside Cheddar and Stilton, complete a British board. Our kitchens prepare each order, and pick-up from London and Kent restaurants is available on request.
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).
Farnborough (EGLF / FAB): Farnborough Airport Ltd
London Biggin Hill (EGKB / BQH): Jetex London Biggin Hill and Biggin Hill Executive Handling
London Luton (EGGW / LTN): Signature Aviation and Harrods Aviation
London City (EGLC / LCY): London City Airport Private Jet Centre
London Stansted (EGSS / STN): Harrods Aviation, Inflite The Jet Centre, London Jet Centre and Universal Aviation
Paris Le Bourget (LFPB / LBG): Dassault Falcon Service, Jet Aviation, Signature Aviation, Advanced Air Support International, Jetex Le Bourget, ExecuJet Paris and Universal Aviation France
Frequently asked questions
When is the Farnborough International Airshow?
The airshow takes place every two years, in July of even-numbered years, with trade days from Monday to Friday followed by public days at the weekend. Please confirm the exact dates with our team when you order.
Can you cater hospitality on board aircraft on static display?
Yes. We prepare coffee and pastry services, canapés, refreshments and celebration cakes for customer tours on board demonstration aircraft, with Champagne subject to local rules, and coordinate deliveries with the operator's team and handler.
How early should I order catering during show week?
We recommend ordering a little earlier than the usual 24 hours and confirming numbers and delivery times as soon as schedules are set. Email order@globaldiners.com and our specialised team will reply with a dedicated quote.
What is the Global Diners client portal?
The portal, coming very soon, is designed to bring the Global Diners menu, order requests, confirmations and documents into one space for crew, operations and finance. Until it opens, all orders go through order@globaldiners.com.
Can you cater flights to other London airports during the airshow?
Yes. Our routine is identical at Farnborough (EGLF / FAB), Biggin Hill (EGKB / BQH), Luton (EGGW / LTN), London City (EGLC / LCY) and Stansted (EGSS / STN). One email to order@globaldiners.com covers every leg, with delivery coordinated with your FBO or handler.
Can you prepare afternoon tea for a flight home after the show?
Yes. Afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, jam, strawberries and pastries is a summer favourite on departures from Farnborough and Biggin Hill, and can be paired with a light main course for longer flights.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Farnborough (EGLF / FAB)
Private jet catering in London Biggin Hill (EGKB / BQH)
Private jet catering in London Luton (EGGW / LTN)
Flying to the Farnborough Airshow?
Whether you are bringing a delegation, hosting customers on board or flying home after the show, Global Diners brings one menu, one specialised team and our kitchens to Farnborough (EGLF / FAB), Biggin Hill (EGKB / BQH) and every London airport. Send us your show-week schedule and we 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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