APEX has recognized Turkish Airlines with the Best Food & Beverage in Europe award for 2026, marking the fifth time the airline has received this prestigious distinction. The recognition highlights Turkish Airlines’ continued commitment to delivering exceptional in-flight dining experiences, combining authentic Turkish hospitality with culinary quality, variety, and passenger-focused service. The award was presented on 10 June in Dublin, Ireland, during the Future Travel Experience EMEA, Ancillary & Retailing Event.
APEX Recognizes Turkish Airlines for Excellence in In-Flight Dining
Turkish Airlines, the flag carrier of Türkiye and the airline flying to more countries than any other, has once again earned international recognition for its food and beverage services.
Receiving the 2026 APEX Best Food & Beverage in Europe award for the fifth time reflects the airline’s sustainedF focus on providing a memorable dining experience across its extensive international network.
The award recognizes an important part of the overall passenger journey. In-flight meals contribute to how travelers experience an airline, particularly when it comes to service quality, comfort, and hospitality.
For Turkish Airlines, food and beverage services represent more than a standard onboard offering. The airline places emphasis on menu development, presentation, culinary craftsmanship, and the integration of Turkish hospitality into the passenger experience.
This latest recognition reinforces the airline’s commitment to maintaining high standards while continuing to develop its catering concepts.
APEX 2026 Awards Ceremony Held in Dublin
The award was presented during the APEX Awards Ceremony on 10 June in Dublin, Ireland.
The ceremony formed part of the Future Travel Experience EMEA, Ancillary & Retailing Event, bringing attention to achievements in the airline passenger experience.
Turkish Airlines’ recognition in the food and beverage category reflects passenger appreciation for the airline’s culinary offerings.
Receiving the same distinction five times also highlights the importance the airline places on maintaining consistency in its onboard dining services.
How APEX Evaluates Airline Passenger Experiences
The 2026 APEX Best Airline Awards were determined using anonymous, unbiased, and verified passenger feedback collected in partnership with TripIt by Concur, a widely used travel planning application.
Rather than relying exclusively on assessments from industry representatives, the awards incorporate feedback from travelers who have experienced airline services firsthand.
During the 2026 evaluation period, passengers rated more than one million flights operated by over 600 airlines worldwide.
The evaluation process used a five-star rating system, allowing travelers to provide feedback on different aspects of their journeys.
Five Passenger Experience Categories in the APEX Awards
The passenger evaluation covered five key categories:
- Seat Comfort: Passenger assessments of seating and onboard comfort.
- Cabin Service: Feedback on the service provided during flights.
- Food and Beverage: Passenger experiences with onboard meals and drinks.
- In-Flight Entertainment: Evaluations of entertainment offerings available during flights.
- Wi-Fi: Passenger feedback on onboard connectivity.
These categories provide a broad view of the airline passenger experience.
For Turkish Airlines, recognition in the food and beverage category demonstrates the importance of its culinary services within the overall travel journey.
The passenger-based evaluation also emphasizes the role of customer feedback in recognizing airline performance.
Turkish Airlines CEO Celebrates the APEX Recognition
Turkish Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ahmet Olmuştur welcomed the award, expressing appreciation for both passengers and the airline’s employees.
He emphasized that the achievement reflects the passion and craftsmanship involved in every stage of the onboard dining experience, from menu design to meal service.
Olmuştur also thanked Turkish Airlines passengers for their continued confidence in the airline.
His remarks highlighted the collective contribution of teams responsible for delivering the airline’s food and beverage services.
The recognition reflects the work involved in developing menus, preparing meals, and ensuring that passengers receive a consistent dining experience.
By acknowledging these contributions, Turkish Airlines reinforced its commitment to maintaining culinary standards as part of its wider hospitality offering.
APEX Group CEO Highlights Turkish Hospitality and Culinary Craftsmanship
APEX Group CEO Dr Joe Leader also praised Turkish Airlines for its approach to in-flight dining.
He described the award as recognition of an airline that has transformed onboard food and beverage services into an expression of culture, hospitality, craftsmanship, and national pride.
Leader emphasized that Turkish Airlines brings the richness of Türkiye to international travelers through its culinary program and service traditions.
He also acknowledged the airline’s position as an APEX World Class airline.
His comments highlighted the connection between Turkish Airlines’ global operations and its commitment to preserving a distinctive hospitality experience.
The recognition illustrates how the airline uses food and beverage services to communicate its cultural identity while serving passengers from different international markets.
APEX Award Highlights Turkish Airlines’ Flying Chef Program
One of the distinctive elements of Turkish Airlines’ onboard dining approach is its Flying Chef program.
The program forms part of the airline’s broader effort to enhance the culinary experience and introduce elements of hospitality into its in-flight services.
Alongside the Flying Chef concept, Turkish Airlines continues to develop diverse menu offerings and evolving catering concepts.
These initiatives reflect the airline’s focus on quality, variety, and authenticity.
By combining culinary presentation with Turkish hospitality, the airline aims to make onboard dining a meaningful part of the passenger journey.
Authentic Turkish Hospitality Across a Global Network
Turkish Airlines operates an extensive international network spanning more than 130 countries across six continents.
Serving passengers across such a broad network makes consistency and adaptability important elements of the airline’s hospitality approach.
The carrier continues to emphasize its Turkish identity while delivering services to travelers with different expectations and preferences.
Its food and beverage offerings form part of this approach, allowing the airline to present its hospitality traditions to an international audience.
The airline’s commitment to menu variety and evolving catering concepts supports its goal of delivering a distinctive onboard experience.
Why the 2026 APEX Award Matters for Turkish Airlines
Winning the Best Food & Beverage in Europe award for the fifth time represents another milestone for Turkish Airlines.
The recognition is particularly significant because the APEX awards are based on verified passenger feedback rather than solely on internal airline assessments.
It demonstrates that the airline’s investment in culinary services remains an important component of passenger satisfaction.
The award also reinforces the relationship between food quality, hospitality, and the overall travel experience.
For an airline operating across six continents, maintaining a recognizable service identity is an important part of its passenger offering.
Turkish Airlines continues to position its onboard dining experience around authentic hospitality, culinary craftsmanship, and attention to service.
APEX Recognition Reinforces Passenger-Focused Hospitality
The 2026 award highlights Turkish Airlines’ ongoing efforts to deliver quality food and beverage services while responding to passenger expectations.
Through its Flying Chef program, varied menus, and developing catering concepts, the airline continues to emphasize the role of dining in the travel experience.
Its fifth recognition in this category also reflects the value of sustained attention to service quality.
As Turkish Airlines continues serving destinations across its global network, the carrier remains focused on bringing Turkish hospitality to passengers through its onboard offerings.
Ahmed Abdul Wasey
Managing Editor, Eat ‘N Stays
Ahmed Abdul Wasey is the Managing Editor in Eat ‘N Stays, overseeing all editorial coverage of travel, hospitality, and food across Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region. He sets the publication’s editorial direction and reviews coverage across hotels, restaurants, tourism, cruise, and industry news before it publishes.
Have a story tip, correction, or question about our coverage? Reach Ahmed directly at pr@eatnstays.com.
