Turkish Airlines named Europe’s best airline once again

Turkish Airlines has once again secured first place in Europe at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. The airline is also expanding its route network with a new service to Chengdu and offering additional services for transit passengers in Istanbul.

At this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards, Turkish Airlines was named Europe’s Best Airline and received the titles of “World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering” and “Best Airline in Southern Europe”. The airline’s Business Class catering has now received the award for the tenth time, while it has been named Best Airline in Southern Europe for the 13th time. In the global ranking, Turkish Airlines climbed to fifth place among the “World’s Best Airlines”. In total, the airline received eight awards across the Economy and Business Class categories.

Istanbul as an International Hub
Istanbul Airport also plays a key role in the airline’s global route network. According to the latest OAG data, the airport offers 294 direct connections, making it Europe’s best-connected airport. In addition, an analysis by Holidu based on Google Maps reviews ranked Istanbul Airport as Europe’s most popular airport, with a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from more than 110,000 reviews.

Turkish Airlines offers transit passengers several options to make the most of their stopover in Istanbul. Under the Stopover programme, Economy Class passengers receive one complimentary night in a four-star hotel, while Business Class passengers can enjoy up to two complimentary nights in a five-star hotel. Touristanbul also offers sightseeing opportunities for passengers with longer layovers between connecting flights.

New Route to Chengdu
From 11 November 2026, Turkish Airlines will add Chengdu to its flight schedule as its fourth destination in mainland China, following Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. With a population of more than 21 million, the capital of Sichuan Province is an important economic and commercial centre. It is also renowned for its Sichuan cuisine and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

The Istanbul–Chengdu route will operate three times a week. Flights from Istanbul will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while return flights from Chengdu will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The route will be served by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 300 seats, including 30 in Business Class and 270 in Economy Class.

Source: Turkish Airlines