Private Jet Catering Shanghai: Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) vs Pudong (ZSPD / PVG) and Local Menu Ideas
Private jet catering in Shanghai begins with a simple choice: Hongqiao or Pudong. China's great commercial city is served by two major airports, and each suits a different kind of flight. Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA), close to the city's western business districts and the National Exhibition and Convention Center, is the natural home of domestic and regional business aviation. Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG), on the coast to the east, welcomes long-haul arrivals from Europe, the Middle East and North America. Our kitchens serve both, with the Global Diners menu and the flavours of Shanghai side by side.
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. This guide compares the two airports for crews and passengers, shares menu ideas from Shanghainese and Jiangnan cuisine and explains how to plan around the city's calendar. It complements our guides to Hong Kong private jet catering and Tokyo Haneda.
Hongqiao or Pudong: which airport suits your flight?
Both airports welcome business aircraft, and the right choice depends on the route, the passengers' plans in the city and the time of day. Our team prepares catering with the same care at either airport, and delivery is coordinated with your FBO or handler.
Topic | Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) | Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG) |
Location | West of the centre, beside the exhibition centre and the high-speed rail hub | East of the city, near the coast |
Typical flights | Domestic and regional business trips, Import Expo and trade-fair shuttles | Long-haul arrivals and departures to Europe, the Gulf and the Americas |
Passenger profile | Executives with meetings in Hongqiao, Minhang or Puxi | International delegations, families and long-range missions |
Global Diners catering | Day-trip menus, Shanghainese classics, compact trays | Long-haul menus with several services, crew meals for rest periods |
Many itineraries use both airports, arriving at Pudong from abroad and continuing from Hongqiao to Beijing, Shenzhen or Chengdu. Our team can prepare each leg from the right airport, with one written confirmation for the whole trip.
Shanghainese flavours on board
Shanghai cuisine, part of the wider Jiangnan tradition, is gently sweet, savoury and refined, and many of its dishes travel well. Our kitchens prepare a selection of local favourites alongside the international classics of the Global Diners menu card:
Xiaolongbao and shengjian bao: soup dumplings and pan-fried buns, with steaming guidance for aircraft with an oven or steamer.
Red-braised pork (hong shao rou): glossy, slow-cooked and ideal for reheating, served with steamed rice.
Drunken chicken and smoked fish: classic cold starters that are perfect for the first service.
Scallion oil noodles: simple, fragrant and a favourite comfort dish.
Hairy crab in autumn: the celebrated seasonal delicacy, prepared on request in October and November.
Longjing green tea: from the hills around Hangzhou, served with light sweets such as osmanthus cakes.
Passengers who prefer a Western menu can enjoy caviar, smoked salmon, fine cheeses and pastries from the Global Diners menu card, and many flights combine the two. Halal, kosher and alcohol-free menus are also available, wine and champagne can be added subject to local rules, and every item carries an allergen label.
Long-haul menus from Pudong
Flights from Pudong to Europe, the Gulf or North America often last eleven to fifteen hours, and the menu needs a gentle rhythm. Our team plans several services rather than one large meal: a welcome with tea and fresh fruit, a main meal soon after departure, a light snack in the middle of the flight and a breakfast or brunch before landing. Our article on how altitude affects taste explains why flavourful dishes such as braised meats, ginger and umami-rich broths shine at cruising altitude.
Welcome: jasmine or Longjing tea, fresh fruit and a few dim sum.
Main service: a choice of a Shanghainese menu or a European menu, with soup, a main course and dessert.
Mid-flight: noodles in broth, sandwiches or a cheese plate, according to the passengers' rhythm.
Before landing: a breakfast tray or a light brunch timed to the destination's morning.
In Shanghai, a good journey starts with a pot of tea and a basket of dumplings, wherever the aircraft is heading.
Shanghai's calendar for business aviation
Shanghai is active all year, but several moments stand out. Chinese New Year in January or February brings family trips to Hainan, Japan and Southeast Asia. Spring welcomes the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix and a major business aviation exhibition. The international auto show is held in odd-numbered years, tennis arrives in October and the China International Import Expo fills Hongqiao in November. Autumn is also the season of hairy crab, a favourite request for flights at that time of year.
For these weeks, we recommend ordering a little earlier than the usual 24 hours and confirming passenger numbers as soon as the manifest is known. Our article on how to place a private jet catering order is a helpful checklist for multi-leg trips.
Day trips to Hangzhou and Nanjing
Many Shanghai itineraries include a short flight within the Yangtze River Delta. Hangzhou (ZSHC / HGH) serves Hangzhou, the city of West Lake and Longjing tea, and a centre for technology and e-commerce. Nanjing (ZSNJ / NKG) serves Nanjing, the historic southern capital, known for its salted duck and university quarter. For these short sectors, our team prepares compact trays, tea and light dim sum, and a second set of meals for the return flight in the evening.
For crews staying overnight in Shanghai, we prepare meals that support rest: steamed fish with ginger, rice and vegetables, fruit and herbal infusions. Our article on crew catering for layovers shares more ideas.
How to order catering in Shanghai
Email order@globaldiners.com with the aircraft registration, airport, date, local delivery time, FBO or handler and passenger count, together with any allergies and preferences, such as Chinese or Western menus. We recommend ordering 24 hours ahead, and a little earlier for the Import Expo and Chinese New Year. Delivery is coordinated with your FBO or handler at both Hongqiao and Pudong. Every request receives a dedicated quote. 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.
VIP Inflight Catering for Events Near Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA)
Hongqiao combines a full airline schedule with one of China's leading business aviation operations, and it is especially lively around Shanghai's flagship events. 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 many aircraft to the city. For these weeks, order catering well ahead of the standard 24 hours, finalise passenger numbers as soon as manifests are known, and agree delivery times with your handler. 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)
Chinese New Year is the great holiday of the year, and both of the city's airports welcome many travellers. Business jets carry families to resorts in Hainan, Japan and Southeast Asia. Place catering orders as soon as trips are confirmed, as many restaurants take a few days of holiday. Sweet glutinous rice cakes, eight-treasure rice and dumplings make traditional festive additions on request.
Shanghai's event and holiday dates vary from year to year, so please confirm timings with our team when placing your order.
Things to do around Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA)
The Bund, the riverside promenade lined with early 20th-century banks and trading houses, faces the towers of Lujiazui across the Huangpu River, including the Shanghai Tower with its high observation deck. Evening river cruises show both skylines lit up. Yu Garden is a classical Ming dynasty garden in the old city. The tree-lined streets of the former French Concession are good for walking, with villas, cafés and boutiques. West of Hongqiao, the canal town of Zhujiajiao is an easy half-day trip. Golf courses and the Shanghai Disney Resort add leisure options.
Culture and heritage near Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA)
Shanghai grew from a walled town into a global trading port after it opened to foreign trade in the 1840s, and its Art Deco and neoclassical buildings reflect that era. The Shanghai Museum on People's Square holds outstanding bronzes, ceramics and paintings. Jing'an Temple and the Jade Buddha Temple are active Buddhist sites. The Power Station of Art and the West Bund galleries lead the contemporary art scene.
Also nearby: Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG)
Shanghainese cooking is sweet and savoury, built around red-braised pork, drunken chicken, soup dumplings (xiaolongbao) and, in autumn, hairy crab. The city also has one of Asia's deepest fine-dining scenes, from Cantonese and Sichuan specialists to French and Japanese counters. Xintiandi and the former French Concession hold many of the best small restaurants and bars. For shopping, Nanjing Road East is the classic pedestrian street, Huaihai Road and Jing'an carry luxury flagships, and Lujiazui's malls sit beside the financial towers.
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
Hangzhou (ZSHC / HGH): Deer Jet Hangzhou Business Aviation Centre
Nanjing (ZSNJ / NKG): Airport Authority
Hong Kong (VHHH / HKG): Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre Limited
Frequently asked questions
Should I fly into Shanghai Hongqiao or Pudong?
Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) suits domestic and regional trips and the exhibition centre, while Pudong (ZSPD / PVG) welcomes most long-haul international flights. Our team caters at both airports.
Can Global Diners prepare Shanghainese dishes on board?
Yes. Our kitchens prepare xiaolongbao, red-braised pork, drunken chicken, scallion oil noodles and seasonal hairy crab, alongside the Global Diners menu card.
How is catering delivered in Shanghai?
Delivery is coordinated with your FBO or handler at Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) and Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG), with each item labelled for allergens.
How far ahead should I order for the Import Expo?
We recommend ordering 24 hours ahead as a standard, and a little earlier during the China International Import Expo in November and around Chinese New Year.
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 event welcomes many business aircraft. Order several days ahead, confirm numbers early and agree delivery timing with your handler. Executive boxes, Shanghai cold starters and international menus can all be prepared on request.
Can I order Shanghai xiaolongbao for a departure from Hongqiao?
Yes. For departures from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (ZSSS / SHA), xiaolongbao and shengjian buns can be arranged on request and delivered hot in thermal carriers to your handler. Since soup dumplings are best eaten soon after steaming, the team will plan timing around your departure and may suggest cold Shanghai starters to accompany them. Restaurant pick-up can be added if you have a favourite address.
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 Hangzhou (ZSHC / HGH)
Private jet catering in Hong Kong
Private jet catering in Tokyo Haneda
Flying to or from Shanghai?
Whether you depart from Shanghai Hongqiao (ZSSS / SHA) for a day in Hangzhou or from Shanghai Pudong (ZSPD / PVG) for a long flight to Europe, our team will prepare the Global Diners menu with the flavours of Shanghai. Send us your schedule and receive a dedicated quote and a written confirmation for every leg.
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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