An IMGW News Report
In the lofty skies of commercial aviation, food and drink may not be the prime reason for choosing an airline, but it seems they can win loyal hearts at 35,000 feet. A recent YouGov survey, polling nearly 1,500 British travellers, reveals that Emirates and Qatar Airways are not just ferrying passengers across continents—they are indulging their palates, too.
Emirates has claimed culinary dominance, with an impressive 85% of respondents rating its in-flight meals positively, and 84% praising its snacks and drinks. Remarkably, nearly half deemed its refreshments “very good”—a commendation few airlines could hope to achieve. Not far behind, Qatar Airways, freshly crowned the world’s best airline in 2024, continues to capitalise on its reputation for service excellence. Eighty-three percent of passengers lauded its snacks, while 82% spoke favourably of its meals.
“These findings confirm an enduring truth: even in an age of algorithmic ticket pricing and shrinking seat pitch, what passengers are served still matters.”
British Airways, meanwhile, takes top honours among UK-based airlines. While it lags behind its more illustrious rivals, 63% of passengers rate its meals positively—offering a measure of reassurance to those resigned to the British carrier’s reputation for service variability.
Completing this gastronomic podium is Virgin Atlantic. The British carrier may lack the global mystique of its Middle Eastern rivals, but it holds its own, with 74% of passengers praising its snacks and drinks, and 73% giving the nod to its in-flight meals. It appears Virgin has found a recipe for pleasing its predominantly transatlantic clientele.
Top 5 Airlines for In-Flight Food & Drink (UK travellers, 2025)
1. Emirates
- Snacks & Drinks: 84% positive
- Meals: 85% positive
2. Qatar Airways
- Snacks & Drinks: 83% positive
- Meals: 82% positive
3. Virgin Atlantic
- Snacks & Drinks: 74% positive
- Meals: 73% positive
4. British Airways
- Snacks & Drinks: 61% positive
- Meals: 63% positive
5. Jet2.com
- Snacks & Drinks: 53% positive
- Meals: 49% positive
Bottom 5 Airlines for In-Flight Food & Drink
6. TUI Airways
- Snacks & Drinks: 50% positive
- Meals: 49% positive
7 Easyjet
- Snacks & Drinks: 35% positive
- Meals: 29% positive
8. Wizz Air
- Snacks & Drinks: 25% positive
- Meals: 23% positive
9. Ryanair
- Snacks & Drinks: 17% positive
- Meals: 21% positive
At the other end of the table, the news is less palatable. Ryanair emerges as the least appetising option in the skies, with a mere 17% of passengers commending its meals, and half branding them “poor”. Its snacks and drinks attract similarly bleak reviews, with just 21% of passengers offering praise. Wizz Air and easyJet fare little better, rounding out the bottom three. Wizz Air’s meals earned approval from only 23% of its passengers, while just 29% were satisfied with easyJet’s culinary offering.
These findings confirm an enduring truth: even in an age of algorithmic ticket pricing and shrinking seat pitch, what passengers are served still matters. As airlines jostle for market share, a well-timed glass of something chilled or a halfway-decent meal remains a surprisingly potent differentiator.
For premium carriers, the message is clear—continue to woo flyers via their stomachs. For the budget airlines languishing at the bottom, the challenge lies in balancing cost pressures with culinary credibility. After all, even a short-haul passenger dreams of a taste of luxury, if only briefly, above the clouds.
