Turkish Airlines has once again come out on top in Europe at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, named Best Airline in Europe for the 11th time. The Istanbul-based carrier didn't stop there — it also picked up World's Best Business Class Onboard Catering for the 10th time and Best Airline in Southern Europe for the 13th time, plus five further awards across Economy and Business Class categories in the Europe and Southern Europe brackets. That's eight awards in total from this year's ceremony.
Skytrax awards are based on passenger surveys rather than industry jury picks, which is what the airline's chairman, Prof Murat Şeker, highlighted in his response: recognition that comes straight from travellers' own evaluations carries particular weight. For anyone flying the airline, that translates into what you actually experience onboard — most notably the catering, which has now been judged the world's best in business class a full decade of times.
Why does this matter if you're planning a trip? Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other carrier, with Istanbul's airport acting as a huge connecting hub between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. If you're booking a long-haul route — say London to Kathmandu, Nairobi or Bangkok — there's a decent chance a Turkish Airlines itinerary comes up among the cheapest or most convenient options. Consistent passenger-voted recognition for service and food is a reasonable signal that a bargain fare won't come at the cost of a miserable flight.
The catering award is worth taking seriously for premium cabin travellers in particular. Turkish Airlines' business class dining — chef-plated mezze, fresh bread, proper Turkish coffee — is often cited by frequent flyers as the main reason to choose it over rivals on similar routes. Economy passengers benefit too, with the airline sweeping multiple additional category awards in both its European and Southern European rankings.
For holidaymakers, the practical takeaway is simple: when comparing fares for a trip through Istanbul, this year's results suggest Turkish Airlines is holding its standards across cabins, not just in the front rows. And if you have the option to connect in Istanbul anyway, a layover there pairs a well-rated flight with one of the world's most rewarding cities — the Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia are a short ride from the airport.
The Skytrax World Airline Awards remain the most cited passenger survey in aviation, so wins like these tend to influence how travellers shortlist airlines for the year ahead. Eleven European titles and a decade of catering wins make Turkish Airlines' record one of the strongest of any carrier in the region.
