The 2026 APEX Best Awards were presented in Dublin on 10 June, with winners spanning Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa. The results give operators a current benchmark for passenger experience, where cabin service, food and beverage, seat comfort and Wi-Fi remain the filters that matter most.
Virgin Atlantic took Best Overall Airline in Europe, Turkish Airlines won Best Food & Beverage in Europe, Emirates led the Middle East, and RwandAir was named for Best Cabin Service in Africa. APEX bases the awards on passenger feedback collected through TripIt from Concur, which keeps the ranking tied to actual traveller response rather than airline self-assessment.
For network planners and product teams, the message is direct: experience metrics are now part of competitive positioning, not soft branding.