The key facts

  • Vietnam Airlines — 'World's Best Culinary Airline 2026', the first Asian winner
  • Heathrow — the world's best airport for dining; Turkish Airlines — the best airline lounge
  • Clubrooms at Gatwick — the best airport lounge for dining

The awards recognised airlines, airports and lounges

At the World Culinary Awards 2026, awards went not only to restaurants: airlines, airports and lounges serving travellers were also honoured. The main winners in the aviation category were Vietnam Airlines, London Heathrow Airport, Turkish Airlines lounges and Clubrooms at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal.

Vietnam Airlines — the first Asian airline to win

Vietnam Airlines received the title of 'World's Best Culinary Airline 2026', becoming the first Asian carrier to earn this award. It beat Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Cathay Pacific and Turkish Airlines. In-flight menus created to promote Vietnamese cuisine are adapted to seasons and destinations. In economy class, the signature item is a crispy flaky croissant for breakfast; for lunch and dinner, rice dishes and spaghetti with sauce, dessert and a bread roll are served. In business class, in addition to Vietnamese cuisine, dishes from destination countries are offered: on flights to South Korea — bibimbap, ginseng chicken soup samgyetang and jjajangmyeon noodles; on flights to Europe — French, German and British cuisine. Business class passengers on routes to Europe, Australia and America can order meals in advance.

Heathrow — the world's best airport for dining

London Heathrow was named the world's best airport for dining in 2026, ahead of Dubai, Hamad in Qatar, Hong Kong, John F. Kennedy in New York, Paris Aéroport and Changi in Singapore. All four terminals feature cafés, casual eateries and world-cuisine restaurants. Terminal 2 is home to Le Café Louis Vuitton, which serves, for example, the Hazelnut Flower dessert — hazelnut praline and ganache with fleur de sel salt in the shape of the brand's signature monogram flower. In Terminal 5, chef Gordon Ramsay's Plane Food market offers all-day breakfasts, pizza, sushi, noodles and traditional fish and chips.

Winners among lounges

Turkish Airlines lounges were named the best airline lounge for dining. Among the nominees were Air France's La Première at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Etihad Airways' first class and spa at Zayed Airport, Lufthansa's first class lounge in Frankfurt, Qatar Airways' Al Safwa at Hamad Airport, the SWISS lounge in Zurich, Thai Airways' Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge at Suvarnabhumi and Virgin Atlantic's Clubhouse at Heathrow. In Turkish Airlines lounges, including in Edinburgh, guests are offered Turkish and international cuisine with hot and cold buffet dishes. The best airport lounge was Clubrooms at Gatwick's South Terminal, beating Blue Sky Premier Lounge in Jakarta, Plaza Premium First in Hong Kong, Plaza Premium in Dubai, the SkyTeam Lounge in Sydney and the Star Alliance lounge in Los Angeles. The Clubrooms menu is updated seasonally: for breakfast — eggs Benedict and Belgian waffles; for dinner — Caesar salad with chicken, chicken thigh in gochujang sauce and Moroccan nut bake with green beans.