For most travellers, eating in an airport is usually a grab-and-go experience. However, did you know that the World Culinary Awards has chosen the best dining experiences at airports worldwide? Having chewed through the nominees, the results are in.
What are the Awards?
The fifth annual World Culinary Awards is a sister event of the World Travel Awards, established in 1993 to honor excellence in travel and tourism. The results have been determined by votes from industry experts and frequent travellers.
Best Airport for Dining 2024
Qatar's Hamad International Airport beat the likes of Singapore's Changi and other high-quality entrants to be the world's best airport for dining crown.
Serving Doha, Qatar's capital, Hamad Airport offers a blend of modern design and top-tier amenities, including a luxury hotel with over 100 guest rooms, tropical gardens, and shopping malls.
It hosts more than 55 dining options, including culinary brands such as Gordon Ramsay Burger, Starbucks, and Burger King.
2024's nominees were Dubai International in the United Arab Emirates, Heathrow, Paris Aeroport, Singapore Changi Airport, Hong Kong International, and John F Kennedy International Airport.
Last year, Dubai International Airport in the UAE held the title.
Best Airport Lounge for Dining 2024
Club Aspire Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3 is a traveller's favourite. An award-winning airport lounge, it has been awarded the World's Leading Lounge at the World Travel Awards in 2022 and TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice award in 2022 and 2023!
Expect a wide variety of complimentary food and drinks, amazing runway views of Britain's busiest airport with charging facilities, unlimited Wi-Fi and much more.
Best Culinary Airline 2024
SWISS First Lounge E @ Zürich Airport, in Switzerland, has earned first place as guests can enjoy freshly prepared à la carte dining in the company's airport lounges. Switzerland's leading airline also puts a particular accent on regional and seasonal ingredients in its culinary offerings.
Alongside such Swiss classics as Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and fondue, SWISS Lounge guests are treated to international dishes such as Thai curry or burgers. The range is changed every three months.
World's Best Culinary Airline 2024
Air France was named the world's best culinary airline, but that should not come as any surprise given that it won three top awards in recognition of its outstanding products and services at last year's Skytrax awards.
In those earlier awards, for the fourth year running, Air France was voted the best airline in Western Europe. It also took first place in two categories linked to its La Première service – Best First Class Airline Lounge Catering and Best First Class Onboard Catering.
"We are extremely proud to receive these prestigious awards, which once again recognize the excellence of our expertise at every stage of the trip and our role as ambassador of French fine dining,” said Fabien Pelous, SVP Customer Experience, at Air France, of the Skytrax Awards.
“Maintaining our place among the ten best airlines in the world in this benchmark ranking is also an encouragement to continue our efforts to provide our customers with ever greater satisfaction."
Andy Probert is an independent journalist and PR writer. He writes about travel, aviation, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Telegraph, Hurriyet Daily News and other newspapers worldwide.
