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Europe's best airline revealed and it has new cheap flights from the UK

Europe's best airline revealed and it has new cheap flights from the UK

The Irish Sun2 days ago

TURKISH Airlines has been named the best in Europe - for the tenth year in a row.
Aviation experts
Oscars
of aviation - has revealed the winning airlines of its prestigious awards for 2025.
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Turkish Airlines is 'The Best Airline in Europe', according to Skytrax
Credit: Alamy
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The airline won eight awards in total
Credit: Alamy
And Turkish Airlines was declared the 'Best Airline in Europe'.
They scooped up eight awards in total, being in sixth place for the rankings for 'World's Best Airline'.
Turkish Airlines also won the 'Best Economy Class in Europe', 'Best Economy Class Onboard Catering in Europe', 'Best Business Class Onboard Catering'.
Continuing the list of accolades, it was awarded the 'Best Business Class in Europe', 'Best Business Class in Southern Europe', 'Best Business Class Onboard Catering in Europe', and 'Best Airline in Southern Europe.'
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It was founded in 1933 and serves the most non-stop destinations of any airline.
Turkish Airlines currently flies to 352 destinations in 131 countries.
The airline also offers the 'Stopover in
CEO of Skytrax, Edward Plaisted, said: "Turkish Airlines continues to deliver a carefully crafted product that resonates strongly with passengers - from the warmth of its hospitality to the quality of its onboard dining."
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"These results reaffirm the airline's standing as a leading carrier in the region and a consistent presence in the global top tier."
It's not the first time the airline has won big at Skytrax, last year, it was also named Europe's best carrier.
Europe's best airline reveals new plane cabins
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Brits can fly to Turkish cities as well as destinations like America and Egypt with the airline
Credit: Alamy
Turkish Airlines also offers cheap flights from the UK to destinations like Istanbul,
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Turkish Airlines recently announced its new flights from Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester.
The carrier operates 47 weekly flights from London Heathrow, which includes extra to Istanbul.
Manchester-Istanbul has increased from 25 to 28 weekly services with flights starting from £171.
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Other cheap flights include the route from London Gatwick to
The airline revealed in June of this year that will be adding more destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Oceania too.
Just last year, Turkish Airlines revealed its new business class plane cabins with sliding doors.
It's designed with a 1-2-1 layout so that everyone has aisle access.
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There are marble-style tables as well as rose-gold touches, wireless charging and personal reading lamps.
By the end of 2025,
Turkish Airlines hopes to roll out
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Qatar won the award for 'World's Best Airline'
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The winner for 'World's Best Airline' was
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Deputy Travel Editor,
There are lots of movies for entertainment, delicious drinks, and the Qsuite provides plenty of privacy.
While some don't want to spend big on business class, the economy seats are roomier than you think too and very comfy according to Sun's Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski.
Plus, we flew on the
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And the
Best Airlines in Europe 2025 by Skytrax
Here are the European airline winners for 2025...
Turkish Airlines
Air France
Swiss International Air Lines
British Airways
Lufthansa
Virgin Atlantic
Iberia
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Finnair
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Turkish Airlines won big at the Skytrax Awards 2025
Credit: Getty

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The stunning but affordable beach towns just two hours from UK – with beers from £2 and hotels from £30-a-night
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Turkey but tailored - How Club Med Palmiye redefines the all-inclusive experience
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Turkey but tailored - How Club Med Palmiye redefines the all-inclusive experience

There's a quiet kind of thrill in venturing on a solo trip to a luxury resort, a mix of bold independence and indulgent curiosity. That was my exact attitude as I arrived at Club Med Palmiye, a stunning getaway nestled between the Taurus Mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Known for its lush gardens, expansive beachfront, and signature all-inclusive experience, the resort promised the perfect balance of seclusion and sociability, and let me tell you, that could not be more true. Venturing on my own, I wasn't sure what to expect. Would I feel out of place amid honeymooners and families? Would the resort's sprawling pools, fine dining, sailing lessons be able to cater to someone travelling alone? What I discovered instead was a setting that not only welcomed solo exploration but seemed to quietly celebrate it. 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And for fitness-minded guests, tennis courts and group workout classes ensure there's no shortage of ways to stay active (or work off that extra helping of baklava). Club Med Palmiye is also a playground for the adventurous. With a private stretch of beach and a dedicated watersports centre, guests can try their hand at sailing, paddleboarding, waterskiing, or windsurfing, with most all included in your booking. The resort's G.O. (Gentil Organisateur) team brings infectious energy to each activity, encouraging even the most hesitant solo traveller (like myself) to dive in, sometimes quite literally. Dining at Club Med Palmiye is a highlight in itself—an all-inclusive experience that feels anything but generic. The main restaurant offers generous buffet spreads that change daily, each meal a small-scale culinary world tour. Breakfasts brim with fresh fruit, local cheeses, Turkish pastries, and much, much more. By lunch and dinner, live cooking stations turn out everything from grilled seafood and tender lamb skewers to fragrant curries and handmade pastas. For a more intimate setting, the more speciality restaurants provide a slower, candle-lit alternative—perfect for solo diners who want to savour the view along with their meal in a more traditional restaurant setting. While the food at Club Med Palmiye is undeniably impressive, it's the people behind the scenes who truly make the dining experience feel special. The kitchen staff, often unseen in other resorts, work with a quiet precision and passion that deserves to be lauded. Each day they orchestrate an enormous culinary feat: dozens of dishes, flawlessly prepared, replenished with care, and always beautifully presented. In a setting where indulgence is expected, they deliver excellence with humility, and their work ethic radiates from every plate that comes back spotless. I witnessed spontaneous applause erupt one evening during the weekly White Party, as the chefs walked through the dining room—guests rising from their seats to cheer them on like rockstars. And rightly so. Whether it's a fresh crêpe flipped to order at breakfast or a perfectly seared steak at dinner, the gratitude they inspire feels woven into the resort's culture. For a solo traveller, this sense of mutual respect, between guests and the team behind the scenes, only deepened the feeling of belonging. As the sun dips behind the mountains, Club Med Palmiye undergoes a kind of transformation, going from a serene coastal retreat to something closer to a dreamy beachfront festival. The Club Med party experience is unlike anything I've encountered elsewhere: theatrical, joyful, and completely unselfconscious. Each evening is themed—White Night, Turkish Bazaar, you name it, and the resort leans into it with gusto. 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I watched parents unwind by the pool or enjoy long, unrushed lunches while their children were clearly having the time of their lives under the care of energetic, professional It struck me how different that felt from other resorts, where childcare often seems like a last-minute patch rather than a core offering. Even the family spaces; quiet garden paths for stroller walks, shaded dining areas, gentle-entry pools, felt intuitively designed. While I'm not at that stage of life myself, I found it reassuring to see a place where families weren't just accommodated, but truly supported to relax and reconnect. It made the overall atmosphere feel more balanced: joyful without chaos, lively without intrusion. I'll be the first to admit, an all-inclusive resort, somewhat removed from the surrounding culture and local rhythm, won't be everyone's idea of ideal travel. For some, it may feel too curated, too detached from the 'real' experience of a place. But for me, in this particular moment, Club Med Palmiye offered exactly what I didn't know I needed: rest without logistics, beauty without effort, and the kind of unburdened simplicity that's hard to come by in daily life. It was a conscious luxury, one I approached with curiosity and left deeply grateful for. As a solo traveller, I felt held by the ease of it all, and while the price tag reflects the quality and comprehensiveness of the experience, it felt justifiable not just for what was included, but for what it allowed me to leave behind for a little while. Sometimes, a retreat from the world isn't an escape from reality, it's a return to yourself. Club Med is marking 75 years of service in 2025. From its first beach village in Majorca in 1950, it now has 68 premium and luxury resorts in 40 countries worldwide. You can secure a seven-night all-inclusive stay at Club Med Palmiye Hotel, Turkey, from €3,036 per adult (based on double occupancy) with return flights from Dublin airport, and transfers included. This price is based on the departure date 19.07.25. If you would like to book a stay at the resort or you want more information, please visit or call 1 800 800 923.

The Irish Blue Flag beach with 10km of golden sand, crystal clear waters, surf school & dolphins near busy town
The Irish Blue Flag beach with 10km of golden sand, crystal clear waters, surf school & dolphins near busy town

The Irish Sun

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The Irish Blue Flag beach with 10km of golden sand, crystal clear waters, surf school & dolphins near busy town

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