Business Aviation Caterers

As business jet owners and operators began cutting flight hours and expenses during the recession, the caterers who serve the industry were among the first to feel the effects.

Some announced layoffs, reduced hours, less-costly half-portion dishes and menus that were custom-designed to meet customers' budgets. Some stopped serving the business aviation community. Still others simply closed up shop.

In recent months, industry associations have noted a slow yet steady increase in the number of monthly flight hours, as well as a climb in charter activity. That's good news for caterers, though many business jet owners and operators appear to still be keeping a tight rein on budgets, giving up the exotic fruit platters and the Lobster Thermidor.

That doesn't mean you can't still find those dishes-or just about anything else you want. Plenty of first-rate caterers continue to serve the business aviation field, as our directory of the top bizav caterers suggests.