Emirates flying high with title of ‘World’s Best Airline’ from new comprehensive study

Emirates has come out on top as the ‘World’s Best Airline’ amongst 90 global carriers in a recent comprehensive and methodological study by Telegraph Travel. 

The detailed ranking and ratings were calculated from more than 30 criteria such as punctuality, baggage allowance, route network, quality of home airport, age of fleet, value of rewards program and tastiness of in-flight meals, while the results were calculated referencing data from more than 18 independent and international awards, readers polls, ratings websites and expert reviews.

Described as a ‘worthy winner,’ the study announced that Emirates ‘ticks nearly every box, from baggage allowance to punctuality. It is the airline that operates the largest number of double-decker Airbus A380s, the jet that passengers love best – because it offers most space and legroom in all cabins, including economy.’ The article adds ‘Premium economy on its A380s is the best in the sky. Business class never disappoints and comes with a chauffeur to drive you to and from the airport, increasingly a rarity. First class has the finest wine list of any carrier – and showers. Its route network is also one of the biggest: 140 cities in 77 countries. It was voted the best long-haul carrier in the world by 30,000 Telegraph Travel readers.’

The independent methodology for the study included 90 airlines, selected for the number of annual passengers carried and points were awarded based on each carrier’s performance across a range of criteria, including reliability, connectivity, luggage rules, inflight experience, average age of fleet, quality of home airport, value of rewards program, safety, heritage, quality of lounges as well as multiple readers polls and rankings from Apex to Airline Ratings, Skytrax to TrustPilot reviews and more.  So far in 2024, Emirates has received an additional 19 awards and recognitions from a wide array of sources across the globe, including seven accolades at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in June for World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment, Best First Class Airline Comfort Amenities, Best First Class Airline in the Middle East, Best First Class Onboard Catering in the Middle East, Most Family Friendly Airline in the Middle East, Best Premium Economy Class Airline in the Middle East and Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering in the Middle East.

Similarly at the Pax International Magazine Awards in May, Emirates was crowned the winner of ’Best Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity Middle East’ for its’ combination of leading Wi-Fi connectivity in the sky, and extensive 6,500 channels of content on ice.

At the Business Traveller Middle East Awards in May 2024, Emirates took home top honours as ‘Best Airline Worldwide’ and scooped up four additional gongs for ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class’, ‘Airline with the Best First Class’, ‘Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East’ and ‘Airline with the Best Frequent Flyer Program’.

At the World Travel Awards in May, Emirates took home top accolades for ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline 2024’, ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline - First Class 2024’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme 2024 – Skywards’.

Emirates Skywards also won ‘Global Loyalty Program of the Year Middle East’ at the International Loyalty Awards in May 2024.

Meanwhile, the March 2024 AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards gave Emirates the top spot for its ‘Best-Inflight Entertainment’ and ‘Best Premium Economy’ – an acclaimed customer experience now serving 21 destinations across the world.

Emirates is not affiliated with any awards or polls, and does not pay to enter any awards, ratings or polls, nor sponsor any of the above.

Winning ‘World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment’ is a testament to Emirates’ renowned inflight entertainment system ice. Thanks to its diverse content and more than 6,500 channels of on demand entertainment in more than 40 languages – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Customers are spoilt for choice with more than 4,000 hours of movies and TV channels, up to 3,500 hours of music and podcasts, more than 2,000 Hollywood and internationally acclaimed movies, 250 dedicated kids and family channels and hundreds of TV series and full box sets including the latest shows from Paramount+, HBO Max, Discovery+, BBC, Bloomberg Originals and Shahid. Emirates is also regularly lauded for its inflight connectivity experience, where all customers can access some form of free Wi-Fi inflight, as Emirates Skywards members.