Exquisite, ‘ impeccable’ and ‘dazzling’ are not words often used when asked to describe airline food.

However, these are the descriptions used by luxury food magazine Saveur, when it revealed the carriers with the best in-flight options.

The magazine’s second annual Culinary Travel Award winners were chosen by an expert panel of the editors as well as industry experts, travel writers, photographers and chefs.

The 2014 Best In-flight Dining Award was split into two categories – first and business, and economy.

Emirates scooped The Experts Choice award for the second year in a row, with Saveur’s experts saying they were ‘dazzled’ by the quality of food and service enjoyed on the airline.

The panel wrote: ‘Enjoying delicacies such as wild Iranian caviar with sour cream and blinis or lamb noisette with roasted seasonal vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes, award-winning chefs have created menus that are not only exquisite but also healthy.’

The airlines serves its seven-course meals on Royal Doulton fine bone china and guests are able to enjoy an extensive range of vintage wines.

Business and first-class guess are able to freshen up in one of the two on board showers before they enjoy their luxe meals, which include traditional Arab mezze and lamb noisettes with roasted seasonable vegetables and creamy mashed potato.

‘Dining in this kind of impeccable luxury is comparable to dining in any gourmet restaurant or five-star hotel we’ve encountered the world over,’ the judging panel said.

‘We can’t help but appreciate the attention to detail on every aspect of a flight with Emirates, making the travel just as memorable as the destination itself.’

‘We are proud to be recognised as the Experts Choice for the second year in a row at Saveur Magazines’ annual culinary awards,’ a spokesperson from Emirates said.

‘Eating well is an essential part of the Emirates travel experience, whatever the class of travel. Emirates has extended its commitment to offering not only the finest dining experience in the skies, but a dining experience worthy of the finest restaurants around the world.’

Oman Air’s business and first class meals were voted as Readers’ Choice winners.

The airline’s seasonally-led in-flight meals – which are served on bespoke full-size china – was described as ‘so much more than airline fare.’

First and business class diners start with caviar and Dom Pérignon champagne and followed by canapes,  canapés and appetisers such as a winter pumpkin-and-apple soup

Main courses include fillet of beef, Loch Fyne salmon, pan-fried sea bass with cherry tomato, herb, and olive salsa, and saffron risotto with grilled asparagus.

Also on offer is the Arabian Festival Combination Dish of king prawn kebab, steamed chickpea rice with pine nuts, and seasoned okra. After dessert (chocolate mousse gâteau or baklava), guests indulge in a cheese plate served with Croft vintage port.

Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Gregorowitsch said: ‘We are delighted that our First Class and Business Class inflight cuisine has won the praise of Saveur’s readers. Oman Air prides itself on the extremely high standards of our inflight dining.

‘We believe that we offer the best dining experience in the skies and we are extremely pleased that so many of Saveur’s readers agree with us. I would like to offer each of them my thanks for their support.’

In the same category, Etihad Airways, Delta Airlines and Singapore Airlines were voted outstanding.

Notable mentions for first and business class meals went to Qatar Airlines, Korean Air, Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways, Virgin Atlantic, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin America, Lufthansa and Thai Airways Royal Silk Class.

Both the Experts and Readers Choice awards for economy dining were won by Singapore Airlines, whose food service was praised for offering ‘passengers meals that reflect the culinary influences of countries along its main routes.

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