Dubai airport lounge named among world’s top 10 as Plaza Premium wins again
Skytrax also honours standout lounges in Rome and London
DUBAI – Plaza Premium Group has been named the World’s Best Airport Lounge Group at the 2026 World Airline Awards by Skytrax, marking the company’s 10th consecutive year of recognition from the aviation industry organisation.
The latest award extends a run that began in 2016 and adds another major accolade to the group’s growing list of international honours. Three Plaza Premium Lounges also featured among Skytrax’s top 10 independent airport lounges worldwide this year, including locations in Rome, London and Dubai.
The recognition comes as Plaza Premium Group continues to expand its airport hospitality operations across international and domestic markets. The group, which introduced the independent airport lounge concept in 1998, now operates a broad portfolio of airport hospitality and passenger service brands.
Top 10 airport lounges
The three Plaza Premium Lounges recognised in Skytrax’s top 10 independent airport lounge rankings are located at Rome Fiumicino Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Dubai International Airport.
The Plaza Premium Lounge at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3 has been recognised as the World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge from 2023 to 2025. The lounge offers travellers an experience designed around Italian culture and hospitality.
At London Heathrow Terminal 4, the Plaza Premium Lounge combines contemporary spaces with classic British food and drinks, offering passengers a hospitality experience before their flights.
The Dubai lounge at Dubai International Airport brings together Emirati cultural elements and international hospitality. Its offering includes local delicacies, art and traditional experiences designed to reflect Dubai’s character.
Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted congratulated Plaza Premium Group on securing the group award for a 10th consecutive year. He also highlighted the presence of three of its lounges in the global top 10 as recognition from customers of the quality standards across its facilities.
A decade of awards
The 2026 achievement gives Plaza Premium Group a decade-long run of World Airline Awards recognition, covering the period from 2016 to 2026. The group said the latest accolade reflects its long-standing focus on airport hospitality and passenger services. Founder and CEO Song Hoi See said the company’s independent lounge concept was created 28 years ago with the aim of changing how travellers experience airport transit.
Plaza Premium Group currently operates 14 brands across 150 countries and 600 international and domestic airports, serving around 30 million passengers annually. Its portfolio includes Plaza Premium Lounge, Plaza Premium First, Aerotel, Refreshhh by Aerotel, ALLWAYS, Smart Traveller and One Travel Experience Ecosystem.
Aerotel operates as an airport transit hotel brand, while the wider portfolio covers lounges, passenger services, airport dining, digital experiences and other hospitality solutions.
Beyond its own brands, Plaza Premium Group provides lounge management and hospitality solutions to airlines, alliances and corporations around the world.
The group has received more than 200 accolades for its work in airport hospitality and passenger services. Its global workforce comprises more than 7,000 professionals, supporting operations across its international network.
The company said its services are built around its mission to “Make Travel Better”, with a focus on combining technology with human-led hospitality. Its airport presence spans multiple regions, giving passengers access to lounge and transit services across a wide range of travel hubs.