Private Jet Catering San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG) and San Juan (TJSJ / SJU): Caribbean Departures
Private jet catering in San Juan brings together two of the Caribbean's great pleasures: Puerto Rico's generous, colourful cuisine and the ease of island flying. San Juan is a gateway between the United States mainland and the Caribbean, welcoming winter-season visitors, golf and wellness travellers, business teams and families heading on to the Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten and beyond. A thoughtful menu on board extends the warmth of the island all the way home.
Global Diners prepares inflight catering in our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports, including Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, with one menu, one specialised team and a dedicated quote for every request. This guide covers San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG) and San Juan (TJSJ / SJU), the island season, Puerto Rican flavours for the cabin and practical advice for Caribbean departures.
Two airports, one capital
Isla Grande, officially Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci, sits on the edge of the bay a few minutes from Old San Juan, the Condado hotels and the cruise piers. Its location makes it a favourite for light and mid-size business jets and for island hops. Luis Muñoz Marín International, in Carolina just east of the city, is Puerto Rico's main international gateway and welcomes business aircraft of every size, including long-range jets arriving from Europe and Latin America.
The two airports are complementary, and our team coordinates catering delivery with your FBO or handler at each of them. Passengers staying in Old San Juan or Condado often appreciate the short transfer from Isla Grande, while guests heading to the resorts of Dorado or Río Grande may find either airport convenient.
Airport | Best for | Global Diners service |
San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG) | Old San Juan, Condado and island hops | Delivery coordinated with your FBO, light island menus |
San Juan (TJSJ / SJU) | International arrivals and long-range jets | Delivery coordinated with your FBO or handler, full-service menus |
St Thomas (TIST / STT) | US Virgin Islands and yacht charters | Delivery coordinated with your FBO, beach and boat-day boxes |
Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM) | Island connections and villa holidays | Delivery coordinated with your FBO, French and Dutch Caribbean flavours |
The Puerto Rico season
The main season runs from December to April, when warm, dry days attract winter visitors from the north. The year opens with the San Sebastián Street Festival in Old San Juan in January, a joyful celebration of music, crafts and parades. Spring brings golf to the resorts east of the city, and Easter and the summer holidays bring families. From late summer into autumn, the island is quieter, with warm weather and a relaxed pace that many regular visitors enjoy.
December and New Year: holiday villas, family reunions and festive menus with Puerto Rican classics.
January: the San Sebastián Street Festival and the height of the winter season.
February to April: golf, wellness retreats and spring breaks in the sunshine.
Summer: family holidays, island hops to Vieques and Culebra and warm-water fishing.
Autumn: a calm season, ideal for business visits and quieter escapes.
Puerto Rican flavours for the cabin
Puerto Rican cooking blends Taíno, Spanish and African traditions into a cuisine that is generous, aromatic and full of comfort. Many of its classics travel well and can be adapted for the cabin by our kitchens, with sauces and garnishes packed separately and clear reheating guidance.
Mofongo: mashed green plantain with garlic, served with shrimp, chicken or vegetables, reheated gently.
Arroz con gandules and pernil: seasoned rice with pigeon peas and slow-roasted pork, a festive favourite.
Tostones and maduros: savoury fried green plantain and sweet ripe plantain, ideal as sides or snacks.
Alcapurrias and empanadillas: crisp fritters and turnovers, perfect for a light lunch on board.
Fresh seafood: grilled mahi-mahi, red snapper and lobster with mojito-style herb sauces.
Desserts: flan, tembleque coconut pudding and guava pastries, with Puerto Rican coffee from the mountain regions.
Every item carries allergen labelling. Halal, kosher and alcohol-free menus are available, and wine, champagne or Puerto Rican rum can be added subject to local rules. For a lighter flight, tropical fruit platters with mango, papaya and pineapple, ceviche and salads are refreshing choices.
In the Caribbean, the best menus feel like the island itself: fresh, generous, colourful and never in a hurry.
Island hops and onward connections
San Juan is the starting point for many short Caribbean flights. Guests continue to St Thomas (TIST / STT) for yacht charters, to St Croix (TISX / STX) for a quieter island break, or to Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM) for villas and beaches on both the Dutch and French sides. Our kitchens prepare light picnic boxes, chilled salads and finger food for these short legs, and fuller menus for the long flights back to the mainland or across the Atlantic.
For more island inspiration, discover Nassau (MYNN / NAS) in the Bahamas, and read our guide to private jet catering at major US airports for the mainland connections through Miami.
Practical tips for Caribbean departures
Order 24 hours ahead, and earlier during the winter season and the festival weeks.
Keep chilled items in the galley chiller: warm island temperatures make the cold chain especially important.
Plan generous hydration: still and sparkling water, coconut water and fresh juices.
Choose light, fresh dishes for short island hops and fuller menus for long return flights.
Share dietary needs for every passenger so each tray is labelled and ready.
Restaurant pick-ups from a favourite Old San Juan or Condado address can be coordinated on request. Our guide to working with handling agents explains how we coordinate deliveries smoothly with FBOs and handlers.
How to order catering in San Juan
Email order@globaldiners.com with the registration, airport, date, delivery time and passenger count.
Tell us about the trip: island hop, holiday return or business flight.
Choose Puerto Rican specialities, international dishes or a mix of both.
Receive your dedicated quote and written confirmation from our specialised team.
Delivery is coordinated with your FBO or handler at San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG) or San Juan (TJSJ / SJU).
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.
Busy-Season Guide to VIP Inflight Catering at San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG)
Isla Grande sits minutes from the capital's hotels, convention centre and cruise piers, so the city's calendar feeds directly into catering demand. January's San Sebastián street festival, the winter-sun season, big conferences and the long Christmas period all bring more business and leisure aircraft, and the city's restaurants are at their liveliest. From June to November, flexible planning suits the summer and autumn months. During busy periods, order earlier than the standard 24 hours, confirm passenger numbers as soon as possible and agree the delivery window with your FBO or handler. Compact, sealed formats are ideal for short island hops.
Event | When | Where |
Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián | January | Old San Juan |
Winter-sun and cruise season | December to April | San Juan, Condado and Isla Verde |
Puerto Rico Open | March | Río Grande, east of San Juan |
Noche de San Juan | June | San Juan beaches |
Christmas and New Year holidays | Late November to early January | Island-wide |
Caribbean summer and autumn season | June to November | Caribbean region |
Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián at San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG): January
This street festival closes Puerto Rico's Christmas season with music, parades and crafts across the narrow streets of Old San Juan. Visitors fly in from the US mainland and the wider Caribbean, and the old city is at its liveliest over the festival weekend. Order catering several days in advance, so our kitchens can prepare everything at its best. Light finger food, chilled salads and individually packed boxes suit guests returning from the festivities, and our team times delivery with your FBO or handler around the festival programme.
San Juan's event dates change each year, so check the current timing with our team when placing your catering order.
Things to do around San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG)
Old San Juan's blue cobblestone streets lead to Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristóbal, the massive Spanish forts guarding the harbour. Condado and Isla Verde offer city beaches lined with hotels, while Ocean Park is popular for kitesurfing. El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US national forest system, is within day-trip range east of the city. Kayak tours visit the bioluminescent lagoon at Fajardo after dark, and catamarans sail to the reefs and cays off the east coast. Golf courses lie along the north-east shore.
Culture and heritage near San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG)
Founded in the early 16th century, San Juan is one of the oldest European-founded cities in the Americas, and its fortifications are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista holds the tomb of Juan Ponce de León. The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in Santurce covers island art from colonial times to today, while the streets of Santurce are known for large-scale murals.
Also nearby: San Juan (TJSJ / SJU)
Luis Muñoz Marín serves San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico and the largest business centre in the Caribbean. As a US territory, the island is reached from the mainland as a domestic flight, and tax-incentive programmes have attracted entrepreneurs, investors and family offices who have relocated here, many based around Dorado, Condado and Old San Juan. Leisure visitors come for beach resorts, golf, rainforest excursions and the historic old city. The airport also serves as a fuel and connection point for flights to the Eastern Caribbean islands.
Old San Juan is a walled colonial city of blue cobblestones, pastel houses and two great Spanish forts, El Morro and San Cristóbal, overlooking the Atlantic. Condado and Isla Verde have the main city beaches, with water sports and beach bars. El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, has trails and waterfalls about an hour east. Fajardo offers catamaran trips to the offshore cays and kayak tours of a bioluminescent lagoon. Dorado and Río Grande have championship golf courses, and the islands of Culebra and Vieques have some of the Caribbean's finest beaches.
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).
San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG): Isla Grande Flying School & Service Corp. and Modern Aviation
San Juan (TJSJ / SJU): Airport Aviation Services and Jet Aviation San Juan
St Thomas (TIST / STT): ExecuJet Flight Services, St Thomas Jet Center and Standard Aviation
St Croix (TISX / STX): Bohlke International Airways
Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM): Atlantic Aviation, Menzies Aviation St Maarten and Signature Aviation
Nassau (MYNN / NAS): Odyssey Aviation and Jet Nassau
Frequently asked questions
Which airports serve San Juan for private jets?
San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG), close to Old San Juan and Condado, and San Juan (TJSJ / SJU), Puerto Rico's main international gateway in Carolina.
Can Global Diners prepare Puerto Rican dishes for a flight?
Yes. Mofongo, arroz con gandules, pernil, tostones, fresh seafood, flan and tembleque can be prepared, with reheating guidance and allergen labelling on every item.
When is the busiest season in Puerto Rico?
December to April is the main season, with the San Sebastián Street Festival in January. Ordering early in these months is recommended.
Can you cater island hops from San Juan?
Yes. Light picnic boxes, salads and finger food suit short flights to St Thomas (TIST / STT), St Croix (TISX / STX) or Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM).
Can I order mallorcas and Puerto Rican coffee for an early departure from San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG)?
Yes. At Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (TJIG / SIG), Global Diners can prepare a San Juan breakfast with warm mallorcas, Puerto Rican coffee, fresh juices and tropical fruit on request. Hot items travel in thermal carriers, and the standard 24-hour lead time is recommended for early slots. Our team confirms the delivery time with your FBO or handler so the order is ready when passengers arrive.
Can you pick up a dish from an Old San Juan restaurant for my flight from Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG)?
Yes. Restaurant pick-up for departures from Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (TJIG / SIG) is available on request, and the short distance to Old San Juan and Condado keeps transfer times brief. Tell us the restaurant and dishes when you order, and our team arranges collection, packing for the cabin and delivery to your FBO or handler, with hot dishes in thermal carriers.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in San Juan Isla Grande (TJIG / SIG)
Private jet catering in San Juan (TJSJ / SJU)
Private jet catering in Sint Maarten (TNCM / SXM)
Private jet catering in Nassau (MYNN / NAS)
Ready for your Caribbean departure?
From a mofongo lunch leaving Isla Grande to a light picnic box for St Thomas, Global Diners brings one menu, one specialised team and our kitchens across more than 2,500 airports to every island flight. Share your flight details 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.
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