Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, was named the best long-haul airline in the Middle East and Africa and the best in in-flight entertainment by independent ranking company AirlineRatings.com.
The Dubai-based airline took home the awards after AirlineRatings.com revealed the world's best airlines for 2019 in Singapore. Emirates featured in the top 10.
To rank in the top ten, airlines must achieve a seven-star safety rating and show innovation in passenger comfort.
_____________
Aviation
SaudiGulf airlines and Airbus sign $1.1bn deal for 10 A320 Neo planes
Emirates' first-half profit slides as fuel bill climbs
Etihad Airways and Gulf Air consider deeper co-operation
_____________
“Emirates has been an industry benchmark in cabin innovation and aircraft for years and dominates long-haul travel, with a level of service that only a few equal," AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas said.
“Emirates was one of the pioneers of inflight entertainment (IFE), and one of the first to install seatback videos in economy. Today’s its IFE platform ICE is in a class of its own.”
Emirates's luxurious first-class cabins were also given a thumbs-up at the FTE Asia Awards in Singapore on Thursday. The airline topped the in-flight experiences amongst West Asian airlines to bag the Best Customer Experience Initiative award in the ‘Up in the Air’ category.
Emirates unveiled its new first-class cabins last year in November, which feature floor-to-ceiling doors that evoke the sense of being on a luxury train than on a commercial flight.
The airline is competing against the likes of Singapore Airlines for well-heeled passengers travelers by attempting to provide a private-jet experience onboard their planes.
On Thursday Emirates warned it will face a "tough" six months ahead after reporting an 86 per cent plunge in profits during the first-half of its fiscal year due to higher fuel costs and unfavourable currency fluctuations.
