Emirates Airlines has once again asserted its leadership in the global travel industry, clinching multiple accolades at the 2024 World Travel Awards and World Travel Tech Awards. Recognized as the ‘World’s Leading Airline – First Class,’ ‘World’s Leading Airline – Brand,’ ‘World’s Leading Airline – Inflight Entertainment,’ and ‘World’s Leading Airline – Rewards Programme,’ Emirates continues to set new benchmarks for excellence in air travel.
In the realm of technology, Emirates stood out for its innovation, earning titles for the ‘Best Airline App Worldwide’ and ‘Best Airline App in the Middle East’ at the World Travel Tech Awards. These achievements reflect the airline’s unwavering commitment to enhancing both passenger experience and operational technology.
The awards ceremony, held at the elegant Savoy Palace in Madeira, Portugal, was attended by industry leaders from around the globe. David Quito, Emirates’ Country Manager in Portugal, accepted the prestigious accolades on behalf of the airline. The World Travel Awards, considered the pinnacle of recognition in the travel and tourism industry, celebrate excellence across all sectors, while the World Travel Tech Awards spotlight innovations in travel technology.
This year’s victories come amid Emirates’ ongoing investments in customer experience and technological advancements. Central to these efforts is its ambitious multi-billion-dollar retrofit programme, which includes the refurbishment of 36 aircraft – 26 A380s and 10 Boeing 777s – featuring state-of-the-art Premium Economy cabins.
Emirates’ First-Class experience continues to set the industry standard, with fully enclosed private suites, a “dine on demand” service, and the luxurious A380 Shower Spa. Recently, the airline further elevated its inflight experience by introducing ‘L’art du Vin’, a specialized wine course for cabin crew to deliver a bespoke wine service with rare vintages.
On the entertainment front, Emirates’ acclaimed inflight system offers an unrivaled catalogue of options. A recent partnership with Spotify, the world’s leading audio streaming service, brings customers an expansive selection of curated podcasts and playlists, solidifying its status as the industry leader for inflight entertainment.
Emirates’ award-winning Skywards loyalty programme, with over 33 million members worldwide, continues to attract 120,000 new members monthly. Skywards members enjoy unrivaled flexibility to ‘earn better’ and ‘spend better,’ with access to rewards such as upgrades, flights, exclusive events, and lifestyle perks through partnerships with over 200 global brands, including airlines, hotels, and financial institutions.
Recognized for delivering a seamless digital journey, the Emirates app has been a standout performer, offering customers real-time flight updates, baggage tracking, 3D cabin tours, and bespoke playlist creation for inflight entertainment. Emirates.com was also recently celebrated as the fastest-loading airline website, with page load times consistently under the industry benchmark of 5 seconds.
These latest awards add to Emirates’ growing list of honors this year, including wins at the ULTRAs 2024, Telegraph Travel Awards, and the Forbes Travel Guide’s Air Travel Awards. The airline was also recognized as a 2025 APEX World Class Airline, further cementing its status as the industry leader.
With a clear focus on service excellence, technological innovation, and customer satisfaction, Emirates continues to redefine global air travel standards, ensuring an unparalleled journey for millions of travelers worldwide.