Emirates named world’s best airline by Forbes Travel Guide

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Emirates has won a slew of awards in 2025

Dubai-based Emirates has been recognised as the ’World’s Best Airline’ in Forbes Travel Guide’s second annual Verified Air Travel Awards, earning the top accolade for the second consecutive year.

The results are based on a survey of more than 9,000 frequent travellers from across the global hospitality industry.

Forbes credited Emirates’ continued success to its ability to “continually refine every aspect of the passenger experience”, citing its recently opened “opulent lounge-like check-in area” for its First-Class and Skywards Platinum members, and it’s the first autism-certified airline, with more than 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff trained to support travellers with autism.

The recognition adds to a series of industry awards for the Dubai flag carrier, which also reclaimed its title as Best Long Haul Airline at both the Telegraph Travel Awards 2025 and The Times Awards 2025.

The latter survey, based on more than 900,000 reader votes, praised Emirates for its “cabin crew service, First Class suites and fleet of roomy Airbus A380s".

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Forbes also acknowledged Emirates’ strength in premium travel, naming its Boeing 777-300ER product the ‘Best International First Class’.

The publication said the suites “deliver sky-high luxury: floor-to-ceiling doors, zero-gravity seats, Bulgari fragrances and food ranging from movie snacks to caviar,” complemented by “chauffeured transfers, a service that helps passengers quickly navigate connections in Dubai and airport lounge access.”

First Class suite on Emirates

As the world’s largest operator of international First Class travel, Emirates offers 26,800 seats a week, each within a private suite, the largest inventory of its kind in the industry.

Adding to its accolades, Emirates was also voted ‘Best International Airline Lounge’ for its First Class Lounge at Dubai International Airport.

Forbes described the lounge as offering “everything a traveller could need and more,” with dishes such as baked John Dory and 72-hour braised beef short ribs, alongside a cigar lounge, bar, shower spas, complimentary spa treatments and dedicated areas for work or rest. The publication highlighted “the convenient direct boarding from the lounge” as the standout feature.

Dining in Emirates' First Class Lounge

Beyond the latest Forbes accolades, Emirates has received multiple honours in 2025, including ‘Best Airline’ in the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards, the ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline Brand’ at the World Travel Awards regional finals, and the title of ‘Most Recommended Global Brand’ by YouGov.

The carrier continues to expand its global network, adding five new destinations this year, such as Shenzhen, Damascus and Siem Reap, and advancing a fleet order exceeding 300 new aircraft.

Key achievements also include becoming the world’s first Autism Certified Airline, launching nine redesigned travel retail stores and introducing its latest aircraft type, the A350, on key routes.

For the financial year ending 31 March 2025, Emirates Group reported record profits of US$5.8 billion, up 20% year-on-year, on revenues of US$34.9 billion, an increase of 6%. The airline carried 53.7 million passengers during the period, a 3% rise, reaffirming its position as the world’s most profitable airline.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com