Lufthansa Wins World’s Best First Class Onboard Dining Award

Zurich, Friday, September 18, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- gategroup, the leading global provider of airline catering, retail-on-board, and hospitality products and services, celebrated a significant milestone as Lufthansa was named “World’s Best First Class Onboard Dining” at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This accolade underscores the strength of the partnership between Lufthansa and gategroup, which has been instrumental in transforming the onboard dining experience.

The award-winning First Class dining experience was developed over more than two years in collaboration with Lufthansa and renowned two-Michelin-star chef Christoph Kunz. gategroup, through its subsidiary gategourmet Germany, played a central role in this endeavor.

Olaf Mauthe, Senior Director Hospitality & Catering Management at Lufthansa Airlines, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the collaborative effort that led to the success of the new First Class concept.

To support the new First Class concept, gategroup established a dedicated team of chefs with backgrounds in Michelin-starred and fine-dining restaurants. Today, Lufthansa First Class departures from Frankfurt and Munich benefit from highly trained culinary teams and rigorous quality controls that ensure consistency, precision, and product excellence. The result is a dining experience that successfully translates two-star gastronomy into a large-scale airline operation while maintaining the standards expected by Lufthansa's most discerning guests.

The new First Class dining concept, introduced in March 2026, was built around greater choice, personalization, and elevated presentation. The collaboration encompassed the full spectrum of the onboard culinary experience, including menu development, service concepts, operational processes, customer testing, and onboard equipment. Complementing the culinary offering, deSter, a gategroup brand, developed the FOX serviceware and equipment concept, balancing premium design, operational efficiency, and sustainability.

gategroup, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, serves millions of passengers through a network of nearly 300 locations in more than 68 countries. By leveraging innovation and operational expertise, gategroup partners with the world’s leading airlines to create exceptional travel experiences. The recognition highlights the strength of the partnership between Lufthansa and gategroup and reinforces gategroup's role as a trusted innovation partner for leading airlines worldwide.