Emirates receives Best Airline in the World award. Photo: Emirates Emirates continues to solidify its position in the global aviation industry with three major wins.
During the prestigious ULTRAs travel awards ceremony held last night, October 17, 2025, at the Dubai Airshow, the airline was selected as the world's best airline for the eighth consecutive year, according to a global vote by 1.2 million travelers.
The company has also won the award for the world's best premium economy class, and a lifetime achievement award was presented to the airline's chairman, Sir Tim Clark, for his many years of contributions to the global aviation industry.
Winning the title of the world's best airline, according to the company's announcement, reflects the emphasis that Emirates places on the overall passenger experience, which includes a large fleet of A380, A350, and Boeing 777 aircraft, a high level of service, meticulous food menus, a comprehensive entertainment system, and premium facilities at airports.
The company won the Premium Premium Economy Class award following the leap in service standards, which include spacious seats, dedicated service, an upgraded menu, and a 13.3" personal screen. The class is currently offered on flights to 61 destinations.
Sir Tim Clark received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation award, honoring his long career and accomplishments from the 1970s and since leading Emirates (starting 2023), a period during which he changed the company from a modest local airline into one of the largest and most influential names in the world.
Emirates aircraft. Photo: Emirates
Sir Tim Clark: “It’s an honour to celebrate our eighth year as ‘best airline in the world’ at the ULTRAs and thank you to all the travellers who gave us their vote. At Emirates, we want every customer to ‘fly better,’ and that’s why we never stop investing into the Emirates experience, to provide the very best in international air travel. Whether it’s expanding our network across the world, upgrading our aircraft through a multibillion-dollar retrofit programme, introducing new Hospitality training for cabin crew or introducing innovative technologies to facilitate seamless travel, we continue to elevate our own standards every year.”