Private Jet Catering Aspen (KASE / ASE) and Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE): Ski Season Guide
Private jet catering in Aspen and Vail follows the rhythm of the ski season: snowy arrivals before Christmas, glittering New Year parties, sunny spring days on the slopes and long, happy flights home. Families, friends and corporate groups fly into the Rocky Mountains to enjoy some of the finest skiing in North America, and the meal on board sets the tone for a mountain holiday from the first minute.
Global Diners prepares inflight catering in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports, including the Colorado ski airports, with one menu, one specialised team and a dedicated quote for every request. This guide covers Aspen (KASE / ASE) and Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE), the nearby alternatives, the high points of the ski calendar and the warming menus that suit mountain flights.
Aspen and Vail: two valleys, two airports
Aspen is a mountain airport right at the edge of town, a few minutes from the lifts of Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Its setting is part of its magic, and it is popular with smaller and mid-size business jets. Vail Eagle County sits in the broad Eagle Valley, around forty minutes from Vail and twenty-five from Beaver Creek, and welcomes a wide range of aircraft through the season.
Many operators also use Rifle Garfield County (KRIL / RIL), around an hour from Aspen through Glenwood Springs, and Gunnison Crested Butte (KGUC / GUC) for guests heading to Crested Butte. Choosing the airport that best fits your aircraft and your guests' chalet makes the whole holiday easier, and our team coordinates catering delivery with your FBO or handler at each of them.
Airport | Best for | Global Diners service |
Aspen (KASE / ASE) | Aspen, Snowmass and the Roaring Fork Valley | Delivery coordinated with your FBO, menus timed to arrivals |
Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE) | Vail, Beaver Creek and the Vail Valley | Delivery coordinated with your FBO, family and group menus |
Rifle Garfield County (KRIL / RIL) | Glenwood Springs and the lower Roaring Fork Valley | Delivery coordinated with your FBO, ideal alternative for Aspen |
Gunnison Crested Butte (KGUC / GUC) | Crested Butte and Gunnison | Delivery coordinated with your FBO or handler |
The ski calendar and its busiest weeks
The Colorado ski season usually opens in late November and runs into April. Its busiest weeks are well known to every flight department: Thanksgiving, the two weeks around Christmas and New Year, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in January, Presidents' Day weekend in February and the spring break weeks of March. Early December brings the men's World Cup races to the Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek, and January sees the Winter X Games at Buttermilk in Aspen.
Late November to mid-December: opening weeks, Thanksgiving family trips and the World Cup at Beaver Creek.
Christmas and New Year: the peak of the season, with chalet parties, celebration dinners and many arrivals on the same days.
January: fresh powder, corporate groups and the Winter X Games in Aspen.
February: Presidents' Day weekend and some of the best snow of the year.
March and April: spring skiing, sunshine, family breaks and closing-day celebrations.
During these weeks, we recommend sharing your plans as early as possible. Our standard advice is to order 24 hours ahead, and over the holidays, an earlier request allows our kitchens to reserve produce and preparation time for every flight.
Warming menus for mountain flights
After a day on the slopes or a long flight across the country, guests look for comforting, generous food. Our menus for ski-season flights balance warmth and lightness, with dishes that reheat beautifully in the galley and travel well in the cold.
Soups and broths: butternut squash velouté, French onion soup and chicken consommé, packed in sealed containers.
Mountain classics: beef bourguignon, braised short ribs, fondue-style cheese dishes and gratin dauphinois.
Colorado flavours: elk or bison tenderloin, Rocky Mountain trout and roasted root vegetables.
Light options: grain bowls, roasted salmon, seasonal salads and vegetable soups.
Après-ski treats: hot chocolate kits, cookies, apple tart, cheese boards and petits fours.
For the family: mac and cheese, chicken tenders, fruit and simple pasta dishes for younger skiers.
Every item carries allergen labelling, sauces are packed separately and each hot dish arrives with reheating guidance. Halal, kosher and alcohol-free menus are available, and wine and champagne can be added subject to local rules for a celebratory flight.
A ski holiday really begins on board: a warm bowl of soup, a cosy cabin and the mountains coming into view.
Cold-weather service tips for crews
Mountain operations bring a few specific considerations for catering. Cold ramps keep chilled items cool, but delicate dishes such as salads, pastries and fruit should be stored inside the cabin rather than left in a cold hold. Altitude and dry winter air also make hydration important, so plenty of water, herbal teas and fresh juices are always welcome on board.
Agree a delivery window with your FBO that matches your winter departure plan.
Store delicate items in the cabin and keep chilled items in the galley chiller.
Plan generous hot drinks: coffee, tea, hot chocolate and soups for arrivals and departures.
Add crew meals for long ski-season days, packed separately and labelled.
Keep a light snack box ready for guests heading straight to the slopes.
For more seasonal inspiration, read our guide to winter destinations by private jet and our advice on crew catering during layovers.
Summer in the mountains
The Rockies are just as appealing in summer. Aspen hosts its famous food and wine weekend in June and its ideas festival around the start of summer, while Vail welcomes music and dance festivals in July and August. Summer menus move towards grilled fish, salads, chilled soups and fresh berries, and many guests enjoy picnic boxes for a day of hiking or fly-fishing.
How to order for Aspen, Vail and the Rockies
Email order@globaldiners.com with the registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count.
Tell us about the trip: arrival, holiday, corporate retreat or return flight.
Share dietary needs and any celebrations planned on board.
Order 24 hours ahead, and earlier during the holidays.
Receive your dedicated quote and written confirmation, with delivery coordinated with your FBO or handler.
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.
When Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley Gets Busy: VIP Catering at Aspen (KASE / ASE)
Aspen sits in a beautiful mountain valley, and its intimate airport is planned with care during every major holiday and festival. Winter is the main season, especially Christmas, New Year and Presidents' Day week, when parking reservations are often arranged in advance and many departures are planned in the daylight hours. Summer brings a second peak with food, ideas and music festivals. In these weeks, place orders well before the standard 24 hours, confirm passenger lists early, coordinate delivery times with your FBO or handler, and choose menus that suit altitude and cold weather, such as warm soups in thermal carriers, hearty sandwiches and plenty of water.
Event | When | Where |
Christmas and New Year holidays | Mid-December to early January | Aspen and Snowmass ski areas |
Presidents' Day week and February ski peak | February | Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass |
Food & Wine Classic in Aspen | June | Aspen town centre and Wagner Park |
Aspen Ideas Festival | Late June | Aspen Meadows campus, Aspen |
Aspen Music Festival and School season | Late June to August | Benedict Music Tent, Aspen |
Christmas and New Year holidays at Aspen (KASE / ASE): Mid-December to early January
The holiday fortnight is the most festive period of the year in Aspen, with families arriving for ski weeks and parties at private homes. Many arrivals and departures are planned on the same days, so early planning is the key. Order as soon as the trip is confirmed, confirm passenger counts several days ahead and keep delivery timing aligned with your FBO or handler. Warming dishes, festive desserts and a good selection of breakfast items are popular, and restaurant pick-up in town can be arranged on request.
Festival programmes and holiday weeks shift slightly each year, so check current dates with our team when arranging your catering.
Dining and shopping near Aspen (KASE / ASE)
Aspen's dining scene is compact but ambitious, with steakhouses, Japanese restaurants, Italian dining rooms and mountain-top lunches on the slopes. The Little Nell's restaurants and the bars of the Hotel Jerome are long-time favourites. Après-ski is part of the culture, from sunny terraces at the base of the gondola to cosy lounges in town. The pedestrian streets around the downtown core hold luxury fashion boutiques, outdoor clothing shops, art galleries and jewellers, all within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Local flavours for flights from Aspen (KASE / ASE)
Aspen's cuisine draws on Colorado's ranching heritage, mountain produce and a dining scene shaped by its international clientele. Colorado lamb, known for its mild, rich flavour, is a local speciality and works well as cold sliced lamb with herb sauce or as a reheatable main. Bison and elk appear on many menus, as burgers, tenderloin or slow-braised dishes, and Rocky Mountain trout is excellent smoked or served as rillettes on crackers. In summer, Palisade peaches from the Western Slope and sweet corn from Olathe are celebrated seasonal ingredients, ideal for salads and desserts. Colorado's green chile – roasted, peeled and folded into stews, breakfast burritos and sauces – gives Southwestern warmth to winter menus. Après-ski traditions inspire hearty soups, cheese and charcuterie boards, fondue-style dishes and hot chocolate, all of which suit the return flight after a day on the slopes. Aspen also has a wide choice of Japanese, Italian and steakhouse restaurants available for pick-up. At altitude, light, hydrating options such as fresh fruit, salads and broths are often appreciated by passengers. Colorado's craft-beer scene is well known, and Grand Valley wineries near Palisade produce wines from Riesling to Cabernet Franc. Restaurant pick-up in Aspen and Snowmass is available on request.
Also nearby: Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE)
Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE) sits in the Eagle Valley, around forty minutes from Vail and twenty-five minutes from Beaver Creek. It welcomes a wide range of business aircraft through the ski season and is a natural choice for chalets in the Vail Valley, with catering delivery coordinated with your FBO.
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).
Aspen (KASE / ASE): Atlantic Aviation
Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE): Signature Aviation
Rifle Garfield County (KRIL / RIL): Atlantic Aviation
Gunnison Crested Butte (KGUC / GUC): Avflight Gunnison Corp
Frequently asked questions
Which airports serve Aspen and Vail for private jets?
Aspen (KASE / ASE) serves Aspen and Snowmass, and Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE) serves Vail and Beaver Creek. Rifle Garfield County (KRIL / RIL) and Gunnison Crested Butte (KGUC / GUC) are popular alternatives.
When are the busiest weeks for private jet catering in Colorado?
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, Presidents' Day weekend and the March spring break weeks. Ordering early during these periods is recommended.
What menus suit a ski-season flight?
Warming soups, braised mains, Colorado elk or trout, gratins, cheese boards and hot chocolate, alongside lighter grain bowls and salads.
How is catering delivered at Aspen and Vail?
Delivery is coordinated with your FBO or handler at each airport, with timings planned around your departure.
Can Global Diners cater flights from Vail and Beaver Creek via Eagle County (KEGE / EGE) over the holidays?
Yes. Global Diners caters departures from Eagle County Regional (KEGE / EGE) for guests leaving Vail and Beaver Creek over Christmas, New Year and other peak weeks. Family menus, children's meals, festive dishes and après-ski platters are available on request. As holiday periods are among the busiest of the year, sending your order early is strongly recommended.
Can I order catering at Rifle (KRIL / RIL) as an alternative to Aspen in winter?
Yes, Global Diners can arrange catering at Garfield County Regional Airport (KRIL / RIL) for flights using Rifle as an alternative to Aspen in winter. Hot soups, sandwiches and snack boxes for the drive up the valley are popular, along with après-ski platters for departures. Please contact our team as soon as plans change so we can confirm the menu and delivery time with your FBO or handler.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Aspen (KASE / ASE)
Private jet catering in Vail Eagle County (KEGE / EGE)
Private jet catering in Rifle Garfield County (KRIL / RIL)
Ready for the Rockies?
From a first-snow arrival in Aspen to a sunny spring departure from Vail, Global Diners brings one menu, one specialised team and our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports to every mountain flight. Share your plans and our 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.
Comments