When it comes to airline loyalty, we all have different priorities. Perhaps your booking is swayed by whether or not the carrier offers Starlink. Maybe you’re thinking with your stomach and making your choice based on the food offering. Or, it could be as simple as weighing up which airline has the comfiest seats.
Whatever it is, deciding which airline to fly with this year is about to get easier thanks to the 2026 APEX Best Awards.
The awards, which have been organised by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) since 2021, cover categories including cabin service, entertainment, food and beverages, seat comfort, and wifi. There are also overall winners.
Winners are chosen based on feedback from millions of passengers who rate their flights across these categories on a scale of one to five through the TripIt from Concur app.
“Passenger feedback remains one of the clearest indicators of how airlines are delivering on the experiences travellers value most,” APEX Group CEO Dr Joe Leader said.
“This year’s APEX Best Award winners are turning passenger insights into meaningful innovation. By listening, adapting, and investing, they are raising expectations, shaping the future of the onboard experience, and setting new benchmarks for service and innovation across the industry.”
The best airlines in Europe
The only airline in Europe to win across two categories is Turkish Airlines, which took home the awards for best entertainment and best food and beverages.
Is good cabin service the hallmark of an enjoyable flight for you? Then you should be booking with KLM, the flag carrier for the Netherlands.
Unsurprisingly, airBaltic came out on top for best wifi. The Latvian flag carrier became the first operator in Europe to roll out Starlink back in early 2025.
As for seat comfort, Finnair has the comfiest seats in town.
Overall, the best airline in Europe was named as Virgin Atlantic.
The 2026 APEX Best Awards also have global winners, but no European airline won in these categories.
Best cabin service went to Korean Air; best entertainment to Emirates; best food and beverage to Qatar Airways; best seat comfort to Eva Air; and best wifi to Delta Air Lines.
Read the full article here
