Virgin Atlantic Airways has been named the best airline in Europe in the 2026 APEX Best Awards, as millions of passengers ranked airlines on cabin service, food, entertainment, seat comfort and onboard Wi-Fi.
The awards were presented during the APEX FTE EMEA 2026 conference in Dublin on 10 June. Organisers said the rankings are based entirely on verified passenger feedback submitted through TripIt by Concur, covering nearly 600 airlines worldwide.
APEX, the Airline Passenger Experience Association, said the awards reflect what travellers value most during their journeys, with passengers rating airlines using a five-star system across multiple onboard categories. The organisation described the programme as one of the aviation industry’s largest passenger-driven benchmarks.
Virgin Atlantic Airways secured the top overall airline title in Europe, continuing a strong run for the UK carrier in customer experience rankings. The airline has invested heavily in premium cabins, onboard dining, Wi-Fi connectivity and new-generation aircraft in recent years.
Other European airlines also performed strongly in the regional rankings. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines won the best cabin service award, while Turkish Airlines was recognised for both onboard entertainment and food and beverage service.
Turkish Airlines received the food and beverage award for the fifth time, supported by its Flying Chefs programme, which has become one of the carrier’s most recognisable onboard service features on long-haul routes.
Finnair was named the best airline in Europe for seat comfort, while Latvia-based airBaltic won the regional award for onboard Wi-Fi.
The global awards also highlighted leading airlines from other regions. Delta Air Lines was named the top airline in North America, Emirates won in the Middle East, Singapore Airlines topped East Asia and Air New Zealand led the South Pacific category.
Several airlines also picked up worldwide category awards. Korean Air won best cabin service globally, Emirates received the award for inflight entertainment, Qatar Airways was recognised for onboard food, and EVA Air won the global seat comfort category.
Delta Air Lines also secured the global best Wi-Fi award, underlining the growing importance of onboard connectivity for travellers. Industry analysts say passengers increasingly expect reliable internet access alongside comfortable seating and quality food when choosing airlines.
The APEX awards come as airlines continue investing in cabin upgrades, digital services and premium passenger experiences following the recovery of international travel demand. Carriers across Europe, the Middle East and Asia are competing more aggressively on onboard comfort and service quality to attract higher-spending travellers.
According to APEX, millions of anonymous passenger ratings were used to determine the winners, giving the awards a different position from industry rankings decided by expert panels or aviation judges.
The results also highlight how passenger expectations are evolving in 2026, with Wi-Fi connectivity now considered almost as important as entertainment, food and seating comfort during flights.
