Winter Destinations by Private Jet: Catering for the Alps, Lapland and Beyond
Winter destinations by private jet are among the most rewarding journeys in business aviation, from Alpine chalets and imperial capitals to the Northern Lights of Lapland. Each season, travellers fly from the Riviera and Paris to snow-covered resorts, and the right inflight catering sets the tone from the moment the cabin door closes.
Global Diners prepares VVIP catering from its own production kitchens in Paris (Le Bourget), Nice and Madrid and from kitchens serving more than 2,500 airports worldwide. This guide explores the most beautiful winter destinations, their gateway airports and how to plan catering for every leg.
The French and Swiss Alps
The Alps are the heart of European winter travel. Courchevel, in Les Trois Vallées, offers one of the largest connected ski areas in the world, while Megève charms guests with sleigh rides and fine dining. In Switzerland, Zermatt lies beneath the Matterhorn, and Verbier and Crans-Montana draw skiers from across Europe.
Alpine gateway airports
Geneva (LSGG / GVA) is the main gateway for Megève, Chamonix and Verbier. Chambéry (LFLB / CMF) serves Courchevel, Méribel and Val d'Isère, with Grenoble (LFLS / GNB) and Annecy (LFLP / NCY) as convenient alternatives. Sion (LSGS / SIR) brings guests close to Zermatt and Crans-Montana, and Lyon (LFLL / LYS) welcomes larger aircraft for the French Alps. Further east, Samedan (LSZS / SMV) is the gateway to St. Moritz.
Airport | Resorts served | Season highlights |
Geneva (LSGG / GVA) | Megève, Chamonix, Verbier | December to April |
Chambéry (LFLB / CMF) | Courchevel, Méribel, Val d'Isère | Winter weekends |
Sion (LSGS / SIR) | Zermatt, Crans-Montana | December to April |
Grenoble (LFLS / GNB) | Alpe d'Huez, Les Deux Alpes | Winter season |
Annecy (LFLP / NCY) | Megève, La Clusaz | Winter season |
Samedan (LSZS / SMV) | St. Moritz, Engadin valley | December to March |
For travellers combining the mountains with Italy, our guide to Milan and Dolomites private jet catering covers Cortina d'Ampezzo and South Tyrol.
Imperial winters in Vienna
Vienna is magical in December, with its Christmas markets, palaces, concert halls and coffee houses. The New Year's Concert and the ball season that follows make January and February equally festive. Vienna (LOWW / VIE) welcomes business aviation throughout the season, and a flight from Nice or Paris makes an elegant long weekend of opera, Sachertorte and evening walks along the Ringstrasse.
Alpine catering works best when it reflects the destination. Passengers flying to the mountains often enjoy raclette-inspired cheese boards, warming soups, smoked fish and rich chocolate desserts, while the flight home calls for lighter, refreshing dishes after a week on the slopes.
The Riviera in winter
For guests who prefer winter sunshine, the Côte d'Azur offers mild days, quiet coastlines and world-class restaurants. Nice (LFMN / NCE) is the main gateway, with planeside delivery from our own kitchen, while Cannes (LFMD / CEQ) serves the Croisette. Our guide to private jet catering in Paris and the French Riviera explores the region in detail.
Lapland and the Northern Lights
Arctic Scandinavia offers an entirely different winter: husky sledding, glass igloos, reindeer safaris and the aurora borealis dancing across the sky. The best season for the Northern Lights runs from late autumn to early spring, when the nights are long and clear.
Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN): the official hometown of Santa Claus, with aurora safaris and husky rides
Kittilä (EFKT / KTT): the gateway to Levi, known for skiing, glass igloos and spas
Tromsø (ENTC / TOS): a vibrant Arctic city and one of the great Northern Lights hubs
Kiruna (ESNQ / KRN): home of the famous Icehotel, rebuilt every winter from river ice
Lapland also rewards travellers in December, when families fly north for Christmas in a snow-covered forest, and in March, when longer days combine sunshine on the slopes with dark skies for aurora watching. Small groups often charter a single aircraft for several days, moving between Rovaniemi, Levi and Tromsø to follow the clearest skies.
Arctic flights are often longer sectors with multiple passengers, so generous menus with warming hot dishes, comforting soups and indulgent desserts are always appreciated.
Long-haul ski destinations
Beyond Europe, North America offers legendary resorts. Aspen (KASE / ASE) sits minutes from the town's four mountains, Jackson Hole (KJAC / JAC) lies within Grand Teton National Park, and Salt Lake City (KSLC / SLC) is the gateway to Deer Valley and Park City. Our guide to private jet catering at top US airports explains how catering works across the United States.
For those who want to ski in the northern summer, Queenstown (NZQN / ZQN) opens the door to The Remarkables and Coronet Peak from June to October, while Bariloche in Argentina and Niseko in Japan complete a truly global ski calendar.
Long-haul ski trips often include a technical stop or a multi-day stay, so planning catering for each leg from the start keeps the journey smooth and consistent. Our kitchens in North America, Asia and Oceania prepare fresh dishes close to each departure, and one email address handles the entire itinerary.
From Courchevel to Queenstown, the finest winter journeys begin with a beautifully prepared meal on board.
Winter menus for the cabin
Cold weather calls for comforting flavours. Our menu card offers a single, carefully curated selection that adapts naturally to winter flying, from Alpine-inspired dishes to festive treats.
Warming soups and hot dishes prepared for straightforward reheating
Cheese boards with Alpine specialities
Smoked salmon, caviar and seafood platters for festive flights
Seasonal fruit, chocolates and patisserie
Hot drinks, fine wines and Champagne Wine and champagne are offered subject to local rules.
Après-ski flights home deserve special care too. After a week in the mountains, many passengers enjoy lighter dishes, fresh salads and fruit, while children appreciate familiar favourites. Ordering outbound and return catering together lets our team prepare both legs with the same attention.
Planning catering for the winter season
Christmas, New Year and February half-term are the busiest weeks of the winter season, and planning ahead allows kitchens to reserve the finest produce. We recommend ordering 24 hours before delivery and sharing the details below.
Aircraft registration, airport, date and delivery time
Passenger and crew numbers
Dietary requirements and allergies
Any celebration, such as a birthday or New Year's Eve
Return-flight catering for the end of your stay
Every Global Diners kitchen works to HACCP principles with full cold-chain management and allergen labelling on every item. For itineraries that change with the snow, our guide on last-minute private jet catering shows how to order efficiently.
Busy-Season Guide to VIP Inflight Catering at Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN)
Rovaniemi's apron is busiest in the weeks before Christmas, when charters and private jets arrive in quick succession for visits to Santa Claus Village, often with turnarounds of only a few hours. January's rally and the deep-winter aurora season keep the pace high, while temperatures far below freezing, de-icing and limited daylight affect ground handling. Summer brings a quieter peak under the midnight sun. In busy periods, order well ahead of the standard 24 hours, confirm passenger numbers early, agree delivery times with the handler, and choose formats that suit quick turns and cold weather, such as hot items in thermal carriers.
Event | When | Where |
Christmas season at the Arctic Circle | Late November to early January | Santa Claus Village and Rovaniemi |
Arctic Lapland Rally | January | Snow and ice roads around Rovaniemi |
Northern-lights and snow season | January to March | Rovaniemi and the surrounding forests |
Deep winter and short days | December to February | Rovaniemi Airport |
Midnight sun summer | June to July | Rovaniemi and the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers |
Christmas season at the Arctic Circle at Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN): Late November to early January
Santa Claus Village, on the Arctic Circle close to the airport, attracts families from around the world, and December day trips create Rovaniemi's most intense period of flights. Aircraft arrive in waves, and many depart the same evening. Order catering a week or more ahead and confirm passenger numbers, including children, early. Family-friendly boxes, festive treats, warm drinks in thermal carriers and lighter options for adults are available on request, with delivery agreed with the handler.
Dates of events and holiday peaks shift every year, so please check timings with our team when you order.
Things to do around Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN)
Santa Claus Village, on the Arctic Circle, is Rovaniemi's best-known attraction, with Santa's office, a post office and Arctic Circle line. In winter, husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobile trips and ice fishing are easily arranged, and Ounasvaara hill has downhill and cross-country skiing. The northern lights can often be seen from the edge of the city on clear nights. In summer, visitors enjoy hiking, canoeing on the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki rivers, fishing and cycling. The Korouoma canyon, a drive to the south-east, offers frozen waterfalls for ice climbing in winter.
Culture and heritage near Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN)
Rovaniemi was almost completely destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt according to a plan by Alvar Aalto, whose layout is said to resemble a reindeer's antlers. The Arktikum science centre and museum explains Arctic nature and northern cultures, including the Sámi. Korundi House of Culture, in a former bus depot, combines an art museum with a concert hall for the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Aalto also designed the library and town hall in the city centre.
FBOs at Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN): the business aviation terminals here include Airpro and Scandiavia. Our team coordinates every delivery with the FBO or handler you choose.
Also nearby: Chambéry (LFLB / CMF)
Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Airport, on the shore of Lac du Bourget near Aix-les-Bains, is one of the main airports for the Tarentaise ski resorts. Private passengers continue by road or helicopter to Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Val d'Isère, Tignes and La Plagne. Its traffic is strongly seasonal: winter weekends from December to April bring a dense flow of jets, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays and during school holidays. In summer the airport serves visitors to the lakes, the spa town of Aix-les-Bains and the Alpine passes.
FBOs at Chambéry (LFLB / CMF): the business aviation terminals here are run by Chambery Savoie Business Aviation. Our team coordinates every delivery with the FBO or handler you choose.
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).
Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN): Airpro and Scandiavia
Geneva (LSGG / GVA): Geneva Airpark SA, Signature Aviation, Dassault Aviation Business Services SA, Jet Aviation Geneva and Privatport
Chambéry (LFLB / CMF): Chambery Savoie Business Aviation
Grenoble (LFLS / GNB): Grenoble Alpes Isere Business Aviation Terminal
Annecy (LFLP / NCY): VINCI Airports Executive Handling
Sion (LSGS / SIR): Alpine Jet Service and Signature Aviation
Lyon (LFLL / LYS): FBO Lyon Airports Executive Handling, Space Executive Handling, Alyzia and AviaVIP
St. Moritz-Samedan (LSZS / SMV): Engadin Airport
Vienna (LOWW / VIE): Magnum FBO, Vienna Airport FBO and Jet Aviation
Nice (LFMN / NCE): Signature Aviation, AviaVIP and DC Aviation G-OPS
Cannes (LFMD / CEQ): Sky Valet
Kittilä (EFKT / KTT): Airpro, Jetflite and Scandiavia
Tromsø (ENTC / TOS): Aviator Norway and Wideroe Ground Handling
Aspen (KASE / ASE): Atlantic Aviation
Jackson Hole (KJAC / JAC): Jackson Hole Flight Services
Salt Lake City (KSLC / SLC): Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation
Queenstown (NZQN / ZQN): Queenstown Corporate Jet Services
Frequently asked questions
Which airport is best for Courchevel by private jet?
Chambéry (LFLB / CMF) is the most popular gateway for Courchevel and the Trois Vallées, with Geneva (LSGG / GVA) and Grenoble (LFLS / GNB) as alternatives.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights by private jet?
The aurora season in Lapland and northern Norway runs from late autumn to early spring, when nights are long and dark.
Can Global Diners cater flights to ski resorts outside Europe?
Yes. Our network covers more than 2,500 airports, including Aspen (KASE / ASE), Jackson Hole (KJAC / JAC) and Queenstown (NZQN / ZQN), through our kitchens.
How early should I order catering during the winter holidays?
We recommend ordering 24 hours before delivery, and earlier during Christmas, New Year and February holidays.
Can I order catering at Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN) for a same-day Christmas trip to Santa Claus Village?
Yes. Global Diners supplies catering at Rovaniemi Airport (EFRO / RVN) for Christmas day trips, which are the airport's busiest operations of the year. Order at least a week ahead in December. Family menus with sandwiches, warm pastries, gingerbread, fruit and hot chocolate in thermal carriers are popular, and festive platters for adults are available on request. Delivery is timed with the handler for quick turnarounds.
Is catering available at Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN) for a night departure after a northern-lights excursion?
Yes. Global Diners can arrange catering at Rovaniemi Airport (EFRO / RVN) for late-night or early-morning departures after aurora tours. Warming dishes such as soups and stews in thermal carriers, hot drinks and cinnamon buns suit passengers coming in from the cold, while cold platters and desserts keep well if timing shifts. Share your plans early so the delivery time can be agreed with the handler.
Explore more destinations and guides
Private jet catering in Geneva (LSGG / GVA)
Private jet catering in Chambéry (LFLB / CMF)
Private jet catering in Rovaniemi (EFRO / RVN)
Private jet catering in Aspen (KASE / ASE)
Ready for your winter escape?
Whether you are flying to the Alps, the Arctic or the Rockies, Global Diners prepares inflight catering that makes every winter journey memorable. Share your itinerary and our specialised team will prepare a dedicated quote for each 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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