Private Jet Catering for ABACE Week: Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) Show Guide
Private jet catering for ABACE week at Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) is all about rhythm. The Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition gathers manufacturers, operators, owners and flight departments every spring, with a static display of the latest business jets right on the airport. Delegations fly in from across Asia, meetings run from breakfast to late dinner, and the cabin becomes a meeting room, a lounge and a restaurant. The right catering keeps every guest refreshed and every meeting elegant.
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 both Shanghai airports. Our Shanghai airports guide compares Hongqiao and Pudong and shares local menu ideas; this article focuses on the show week itself, from on-board hospitality during the exhibition to menus for the flights in and out.
ABACE at a glance
ABACE is held each spring at Shanghai Hongqiao, close to the city's business districts and the National Exhibition and Convention Center. The exhibition hall and the static display sit side by side, so exhibitors and visitors move easily between the stands and the aircraft. For an operator showing an aircraft, or a principal visiting the show, the days follow a similar pattern: early meetings, aircraft tours through the day, and evening receptions in the city.
Show moment | What happens | Global Diners catering idea |
Arrival day | Delegations fly in from across Asia | Light arrival menu, fruit, tea and dim sum |
Morning tours | Guests visit aircraft on static display | Coffee, tea, pastries and fruit for the cabin |
Midday meetings | Working lunches on board | Elegant bento-style boxes and salads |
Afternoon receptions | Hosted visits for clients | Canapés, petits fours and refreshments |
Departure day | Flights home or onward | Comforting dinner, noodles or a Western main |
Show dates and exhibition hours change from year to year, so our team confirms the timings with you when you order.
Hospitality in the cabin on the static display
An aircraft on display welcomes a steady flow of guests through the day, and the catering should feel effortless. Our team suggests small, beautiful items that can be served in one or two bites and refreshed without fuss: finger sandwiches, mini pastries, fresh fruit cups, macarons and chocolates, with Chinese teas, coffee and still and sparkling water. Every item carries an allergen label, and fresh trays can be scheduled for the morning and the afternoon.
Morning tray: croissants, egg tarts, fruit skewers, yoghurt cups and freshly brewed coffee.
Afternoon tray: finger sandwiches, mini pastries, macarons and jasmine or oolong tea.
Client reception: canapés, smoked salmon blinis, caviar from the Global Diners menu card and champagne subject to local rules.
Crew boxes: individual meals for pilots and cabin crew on duty with the aircraft.
For operators bringing a new aircraft to the show, the catering is part of the presentation. Our team can match the service to the cabin: fine porcelain-style presentation for a large-cabin jet, compact elegant boxes for a light jet, and a small welcome tray at the door for guests who only have a few minutes between meetings. The presentation of each tray is planned with your cabin crew, so every visitor leaves with a lasting impression of the aircraft and the hospitality on board.
During show week, the cabin is a showroom and a reception room at once: the catering should be as polished as the aircraft.
Shanghainese and international menus
Shanghainese cooking brings a lovely balance of sweet and savoury to the cabin. Cold starters such as drunken chicken, smoked fish and marinated vegetables are ideal for a short flight, while braised pork belly, red-cooked fish and fragrant rice suit a longer sector. Xiaolongbao and other dumplings are best steamed and served early in the flight. Delegations from many countries attend ABACE, so our team often combines a Chinese menu with Japanese, Western and Middle Eastern dishes in the same order.
In autumn, hairy crab is the great seasonal delicacy of the region, and for spring flights, fresh bamboo shoots, river shrimp and tender greens bring the season to the table. Halal, kosher, vegetarian and vegan menus are available for every delegation.
Flights in and out of Shanghai
Most visitors arrive from Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and the Gulf, and many continue to other Asian cities after the show. Passenger preferences are shared once and follow every leg, so the same tea, the same breakfast and the same favourite dishes are waiting on board. Our guides to Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG), Singapore Seletar and Changi and Tokyo Haneda cover the most frequent connections.
Planning catering for show week
ABACE week brings many aircraft to Hongqiao at the same moment, so planning early makes everything easy. We recommend ordering a little earlier than the usual 24 hours, sharing the full show schedule with our team, and confirming the number of guests expected on board each day. For aircraft on static display, our team plans morning and afternoon refreshments with your handler in one order.
Our team coordinates every delivery with the FBO or handler you choose at Hongqiao or Pudong, and the FBOs are listed at the end of this guide.
How to order ABACE 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 for show week, with the daily schedule and guest numbers.
Receive your dedicated quote and a written confirmation from our specialised team.
Our team coordinates the delivery time with your FBO or handler at Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) or Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG).
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.
Shanghai events and seasonal guide for flights from Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA)
Motor racing and the business aviation show in spring, the international auto show in odd years, tennis in October and the Import Expo in November each bring a lively season of business aviation to the city. Sealed individual portions keep quick turns simple.
Event | When | Where |
Spring Festival | January or February (varies) | Citywide |
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix | Spring (usually March or April) | Shanghai International Circuit, Jiading |
ABACE business aviation show | Spring (usually April or May) | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport |
Auto Shanghai | April, odd-numbered years | National Exhibition and Convention Center, Hongqiao |
Shanghai Masters tennis | October | Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Minhang |
China International Import Expo | November | National Exhibition and Convention Center, Hongqiao |
Spring Festival at Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA): January or February (varies)
During Chinese New Year, Shanghai celebrates with family gatherings, and many residents travel for the holiday. Business jets carry families to resorts in Hainan, Japan and Southeast Asia. Sweet glutinous rice cakes, eight-treasure rice and dumplings make traditional festive additions on request.
Shanghai's event and holiday dates shift every year, so please confirm timings with our team when placing your order.
Dining and shopping near Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA)
Shanghai has one of Asia's most varied restaurant scenes, from traditional dumpling houses in the old town to hotel dining rooms and international restaurants in Xintiandi, the Bund and Jing'an. Nanjing Road is the long-established shopping street, and Huaihai Road, Plaza 66 and the malls of Lujiazui carry luxury brands. Tianzifang's lanes host small studios and boutiques. Silk, tea and pearls are traditional purchases.
Local flavours for flights from Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA)
In autumn, hairy crab from the lakes around Shanghai is a coveted seasonal delicacy, often offered as crab meat dishes. Shanghai also has a large international dining scene, so Western, Japanese and Middle Eastern menus are easily arranged. Restaurant pick-up on request is possible.
Also on the Global Diners network: Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG)
Shanghai grew from a walled county town into a treaty port in the nineteenth century, and the Bund's banks and trading houses still trace that era in granite and Art Deco. The Shanghai Museum on People's Square holds major collections of bronzes, ceramics and calligraphy. The West Bund museums and the Power Station of Art focus on contemporary work, while the Jade Buddha Temple and Longhua Temple show the city's older religious life.
Shanghainese cooking is known for its sweet-savoury balance and soy-braised dishes. In autumn, hairy crab from the lakes around Shanghai is a seasonal highlight. For the cabin, cold appetisers such as drunken chicken, smoked fish and marinated vegetables serve well on short sectors, braised dishes reheat neatly with rice, and dumplings are best steamed and served soon after departure. Shanghainese specialities and Western menus are available on request, with restaurant pick-up from a chosen Shanghai address 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).
Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA): Shanghai Hawker Pacific FBO
Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG): Saint Royal Aviation Ltd
Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG): Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre Limited
Singapore Seletar (WSSL / XSP): WingsOverAsia Pte Ltd, Aviation Hub Pte Ltd, Jet Aviation Singapore, Jetex Singapore, Premier Aero Services Pte Ltd and Universal Aviation
Frequently asked questions
What is ABACE?
ABACE is the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition, held each spring at Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) with an exhibition hall and a static display of business aircraft.
Can Global Diners cater an aircraft on static display?
Yes. Our team plans morning and afternoon refreshment trays, client reception canapés and crew boxes, with every delivery coordinated with your handler.
Which dishes suit show-week flights?
Shanghainese cold starters, dumplings, braised dishes, bento-style boxes and international menus all work well, with halal, kosher and vegetarian options for every delegation.
How early should I order for ABACE week?
We recommend ordering a little earlier than the usual 24 hours and sharing the daily schedule and guest numbers with our team.
Can I order catering at Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) for flights during the China International Import Expo?
Yes. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (ZSSS / SHA) sits next to the National Exhibition and Convention Center, where the Import Expo is held each November, and the week is one of the liveliest of the business aviation year. Executive boxes, Shanghai cold starters and international menus can all be prepared on request.
Can I get xiaolongbao for a business jet flight from Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG)?
Yes. For departures from Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG), xiaolongbao and other Shanghainese dumplings are available on request, packed for steaming or reheating in the galley. They are best served early in the flight. Our team can add cold appetisers, braised dishes and Western courses to the same order and will send a quote per request.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA)
Private jet catering in Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG)
Private jet catering in Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG)
Private jet catering in Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong
Exhibiting or visiting ABACE this year?
Share your show schedule with Global Diners, and our specialised team will prepare a dedicated quote for show-week catering, from the first morning tray on the static display to the dinner on your flight home.
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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