Airline food is an easy punchline — until you spend twelve hours in economy and realize the tray in front of you matters more than the lounge you never entered.
For a current benchmark, the most useful published list is Skytrax’s 2025 World Airline Awards category for Best Economy Class Airline Catering. This is a passenger-award ranking, not a laboratory taste test, but it gives a clean answer to a very subjective question.
Economy catering leaders for 2025
EVA Air
Skytrax’s 2025 winner for economy onboard catering. EVA’s strength is consistency: meals that feel designed for long-haul passengers rather than treated as an afterthought.
Cathay Pacific
Second for catering and first overall for economy class, making Cathay one of the strongest all-round choices on the list.
Qatar Airways
A strong economy product from an airline better known for premium cabins. Catering ranked third globally.
Singapore Airlines
Long known for service discipline, Singapore placed fourth for economy catering and third for overall economy class.
STARLUX Airlines
The newer Taiwanese carrier placed fifth, a notable result against much larger global competitors.
Saudia
Sixth in the catering category, giving the Middle East two airlines in the top six.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish placed seventh for economy catering and remains particularly strong on routes through its Istanbul hub.
Hainan Airlines
Eighth globally and the top-rated China-based carrier for economy onboard catering.
Emirates
Ninth for catering and seventh for overall economy class — still a strong option when network convenience matters too.
Japan Airlines
Tenth for catering, while taking the separate Skytrax award for the world’s best economy-class seat.
One airline does not serve one meal
Menus vary by departure airport, route, flight duration, catering contractor, season and dietary request. A Tokyo–London flight can have a very different menu from a short regional sector on the same airline.
Check the meal policy, not just the ranking
On some fares, meal inclusion can differ by route or airline subsidiary. If you have allergies, religious requirements or a strict diet, request the appropriate special meal in advance and verify the deadline with the airline.
Good economy food is still route-dependent
Skytrax gives EVA Air the 2025 catering crown. But the best airline for your trip is the one that combines a decent meal with the schedule, seat, baggage allowance and price you can actually live with.