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When Turkish Airlines was named Best Airline in Europe for a record-breaking tenth time at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, it wasn't the accolade itself that turned heads – it was the sheer breadth of recognition that accompanied it. Alongside the headline honour, the carrier swept the catering categories, taking home awards for Best Business Class Onboard Catering in Europe and Best Business Class Onboard Catering globally. For an airline that has long staked its reputation on hospitality, the message was clear: when it comes to dining in the skies, Turkish Airlines is in a league of its own.
At the heart of this success is a partnership with DO&CO, one of the world's most prestigious catering companies, whose influence can be felt from the moment a business class passenger boards. Menus are built around both traditional Turkish cuisine and international dishes, crafted using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
The dining experience begins with a welcome drink, followed by an assortment of hot and cold appetisers, setting the tone for what is an unapologetically indulgent affair. Main courses range from homemade Italian pasta and white bean stew with pilaf, to swordfish, and slow-cooked lamb shank – alongside a traditional Adana kebab, hand-minced with a zırh, the iconic curved blade of Turkish cookery. These are dishes rooted in place and tradition, not generic airline staples designed to please the masses.
Desserts push the experience further still, with Turkish sherbet pastries, warm tahini halva, tiramisu, and the celebrated Maraş ice cream – a dense, stretchy variety from southern Türkiye that has become something of a signature for the airline. It's these details that separate Turkish Airlines from competitors: the willingness to showcase a national culinary identity rather than flatten it for international palates.
When it comes to dining in the skies, Turkish Airlines is in a league of its own
Perhaps the most distinctive element of the business class offering, however, is the Flying Chef programme. Relaunched in 2021, the programme places one or two dedicated chefs onboard every long-haul flight over eight hours, each responsible exclusively for the business class cabin. Around 70 percent of the food is prepared in base kitchens, with the remaining 30 percent finished in the aircraft ovens by the Flying Chefs themselves – giving the experience the feel of a five-star restaurant rather than a catering trolley.
The Dine on Demand service adds a further layer of personalisation, allowing passengers to eat at a time of their choosing. Passengers can also preview menus and pre-select their main course up to 48 hours before departure, ensuring that by the time they board, the experience already feels tailored to them.
Dining aside, the broader business class product is equally compelling. Passengers sleep on lie-flat seats with pillows and blankets. A collaboration with French luxury house Lanvin has introduced exclusive amenity kits featuring limited-edition cosmetics, hand and body lotion, and lip balm enriched with natural oils. Complimentary Wi-Fi and Denon noise-cancelling headphones round out an onboard package that punches well above its price point. On the ground, the flagship business class lounge in Istanbul Airport goes well beyond a standard departure lounge, offering massage treatments, video games, and a golf simulator – making Istanbul one of the most celebrated transit experiences in aviation.
With the airline now rolling out its new Crystal Business Class cabin – featuring private suites, lie-flat seats, and marble side tables – the stage is set for the dining programme to be showcased in an even more fitting environment. Ten years as Best Airline in Europe is not an accident. With a dining programme already regarded as the world's finest and a new cabin to match, Turkish Airlines shows no sign of relinquishing that title any time soon.
For bookings and more information, see turkishairlines.com
