Unconventional catering takes to the skies: food and beverage options for private jet travel in Alaska.

• Author: Linford, Susie Von Willer
• Position: Conventions & Meetings

Anchorage is a major hub for private jets going out of country and coming into the United States. A large number of corporate jets from New York, Boston, and Los Angeles stop in Anchorage to refuel, change flight crews, clean the cabin, and load catered meals onto the jet for the duration of the journey. The majority of corporate jet travel is to Beijing and Shanghai, China. A few corporate jets head to or from Dubai.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A typical corporate jet will have three crew members (two pilots and one flight attendant) and three passengers. These jets and passengers may be on the ground for as little as three hours or for days.

Anchorage is home to three ground flight service companies: Great Circle Flight Services, Landmark Aviation (formerly MillionAir), and Signature Flight Support. All of the ground service companies offer comfortable lounges, ground transportation, and concierge services.

Catering for Private Jets

Speaking of catering, Alaska is world famous for our wild caught seafood. The number one request from passengers and flight crew on a private jet is fresh Alaska salmon and halibut, followed closely by Alaska king crab. And when the Copper River Salmon are running--the flight crew and passengers are in wild salmon heaven!

They also appreciate Alaska's growing fresh, organic produce offerings, including root vegetables, heirloom tomatoes, lettuces, and herbs.

A typical private jet catering will consist of two complete meals per individual, breakfast and lunch. Meals need to be packaged securely to avoid leakage and kept at the safe food temperature range.

Catering for a private jet may sound glamorous, but it is a lot of hard work. Each meal is a special order that requires searching local markets and specialty stores for the ingredients then preparing the meal and cooling it down prior to refrigeration.

Meals need to be attractive with color and garnish, and everything is required to be labeled with the meal contents, the private aircraft's tail number, and date.

Unconventional Conditions

It is not uncommon to deliver a meal at 3 a.m. for a 6 a.m. flight.

Unusual requests happen all the time. An incoming flight may radio the ground support company that fresh sushi is requested at 3 a.m. Needless to say, there are no Japanese restaurants or sushi providers at 3 a.m. Typically the ground support company will make a run to a local grocery store and purchase pre-made sushi. Not great, but the only option available in...