Emirates clinches ‘Best Airline in the World’ title for 8th successive year
Dubai carrier celebrates global triumph at ULTRAs 2025 with triple honours
DUBAI – Emirates has been named ‘Best Airline in the World’ for the eighth consecutive year at the ULTRAs travel awards, held in Dubai, securing its place as a leader in global aviation excellence.
The annual event recognises airlines that deliver exceptional service, innovation, and passenger experience, with winners determined by votes from Ultratravel’s global network of 1.2 million frequent and affluent travellers. Emirates also received the title of ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class,’ along with a prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation’ presented to Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline.
The ULTRAs awards are among the most respected in the travel industry. Ultratravel voters, who collectively will spend over $1 billion on travel in 2025, represent a powerful voice in luxury and global travel trends.
Sir Tim Clark expressed his appreciation, stating that Emirates continues to invest in enhancing every aspect of the travel journey – from network expansion and aircraft upgrades through a multibillion-dollar retrofit programme to bespoke hospitality training for cabin crew and innovative technologies that streamline the customer experience. He highlighted the airline’s ambition to ensure every customer can ‘fly better’.
Best Airline in the World
Emirates secured its ‘Best Airline in the World’ title due to its unmatched inflight and ground experience across a network of more than 150 destinations. Its fleet features Airbus A380s, A350s and Boeing 777 aircraft, offering reliability, connectivity, and comfort for millions of global passengers.
The carrier is renowned for regionally inspired gourmet cuisine, exceptional inflight entertainment featuring over 6,500 channels on ice, and luxury amenities across First Class and Premium cabins, including private suites, onboard lounges, and shower spas. The Emirates experience further extends to elite airport lounges, chauffeur-driven services, and digitally enhanced travel solutions.
Its commitment to sustainability and ongoing investment in cabin crew training continue to reinforce its leadership position in international aviation.
Best Premium Economy
Emirates also triumphed with the accolade of ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class’ – celebrating its newest cabin product, which has quickly gained global recognition, including ‘Best Premium Economy’ at the AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards. Emirates remains the only airline in the region to offer this premium cabin, designed to bridge comfort, value and exclusivity.
Passengers travelling in Premium Economy enjoy dedicated check-in desks, cream leather seats with a pitch of up to 40 inches, calf rests and footrests, premium cuisine and beverages, a generous wine selection, and a 13.3-inch entertainment screen. The intimate cabin is currently available on routes between Dubai and 61 cities, making it one of the most expansive Premium Economy rollouts in the world.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sir Tim Clark received the ULTRAs ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation,’ recognising a career shaping the global airline industry. Since beginning his aviation journey in 1972, he joined Emirates in 1985 and has served as President since 2003. Under his leadership, Emirates evolved from a modest regional carrier into one of the world’s most influential airlines, recognised for innovation, fleet strategy, and worldwide connectivity. Earlier this year, he was also honoured by the Wings Club Foundation with the Distinguished Achievement Award.
Growing accolades
These honours add to Emirates’ remarkable streak of awards in 2025. This year, the airline secured ‘Best International Airline,’ ‘Best International First Class,’ and ‘Best International Airline Lounge’ from the Forbes Travel Guide Verified Air Travel Awards 2025. It was also named ‘Best Long-Haul Airline’ at The Times and The Sunday Times Travel Awards 2025.
At the World Travel Awards regional finals, Emirates won ‘Middle East's Leading Airline – First Class’ and ‘Middle East's Leading Airline Lounge – First Class’. Emirates Skywards, the airline’s loyalty programme, was also acclaimed as the ‘Best Global Airline Loyalty Program’ at the International Loyalty Awards 2025, and won ‘Middle East's Leading Airline Rewards Programme’ at the World Travel Awards.
Earlier in the year, Emirates claimed ‘Best Long-Haul Airline’ at The Telegraph Travel Awards, ‘2025's Most Recommended Global Brand’ by YouGov, and multiple titles at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards, including ‘Best Airline Worldwide’ for 12 consecutive years.