Top 10 airlines where in-flight dining is a gastronomic experience – Here is the ranking by Food & Wine

1. Emirates – Luxury dining in the skies

Dubai’s flagship carrier tops the list, thanks to its vertical indoor farm that supplies fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Under the guidance of chef Hugh Styles—formerly of Berlin’s Waldorf Astoria and Dubai’s Sheraton Grand Hotel—the airline prepares 115,000 meals per day, totaling 42 million annually. Despite the massive volume, the airline maintains a stellar standard in both food and wine.

2. Singapore Airlines – Street food meets fine dining

Twice crowned the world’s best airline by Skytrax, Singapore Airlines earns high praise for blending Southeast Asian spices and techniques. Its menu includes elevated versions of iconic street dishes like satay skewers and bak chor mee (vinegar and soy-marinated pork with noodles), impressing even the toughest food critics.

3. Qatar Airways – Gourmet cuisine on ultra-long-haul routes

Qatar Airways flies long routes—like nonstop from Doha to Los Angeles—on aircraft with full galleys that enable high-end preparation. Sample offerings include burrata with heirloom tomatoes, pear soup with parmesan crostini, and roasted lamb loin with mashed potatoes. For dessert: pistachio mousse with spiced plums and oat biscuits.

4. Air New Zealand – Indigenous flavors take flight

Air New Zealand incorporates traditional Maori ingredients like rewarewa honey, known for its healing properties. The dark, rich nectar pairs perfectly with duck red curry, grilled zucchini, jasmine rice, and daikon radish.

5. All Nippon Airways (ANA) – Kyoto elegance in the sky

ANA’s long-haul first-class menu is designed by Yoshihiro Takahashi, 15th-generation head of Kyoto’s 400-year-old Hyotei restaurant. Expect dishes like chrysanthemum leaves with wheat gluten, miso-marinated grilled sea bream with taro, and dried bonito or mackerel paired with fine sake.

6. Air France – Michelin magic at cruising altitude

Collaborating with top-tier chefs, Air France elevates classic French cuisine. Recently, three-star Michelin chef Emmanuel Renaut designed menus for Paris departures. From San Francisco and Miami, Dominique Crenn takes the lead, while Olivier Chaignon curates dishes for Tokyo routes—all three-star chefs.

7. Cathay Pacific – A taste of Hong Kong above the clouds

With four Skytrax “World’s Best Airline” awards, Cathay Pacific excels in showcasing Hong Kong’s culinary heritage. Menus include clay pot rice, dim sum, steamed abalone, and tapioca tea pudding. Several airport lounges offer teahouses, noodle bars, and even a collaboration with Cantonese fine-dining restaurant Mott 32.

8. Etihad Airways – British classics, refined

Etihad serves hearty, elegant meals on its long-haul flights. Think British-style breakfasts (eggs, rösti, beans, bacon) and roasts with carrots and gravy. A highlight: Champagne Devaux 2009 vintage—a rare treat in the sky.

9. Japan Airlines (JAL) – Elevated sake culture

JAL is meticulous about its menus. Its first-class beverage list includes premium sake and shochu—a distilled spirit stronger than traditional sake. With 25–40% ABV, it’s an elegant nod to Japan’s spirit-making legacy.

10. La Compagnie – Boutique business-class indulgence

This all-business-class French boutique airline rounds out the list with a sophisticated four-course menu: leeks with shredded beef in mango vinaigrette, veal shoulder with cheesy mash or shrimp risotto with black rice, Gruyère and Cabécou cheese with walnuts, and chocolate mousse for dessert.