Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
UAE airlines have claimed two of the top three spots in the Middle East and Africa in AirlineRatings.com's 2026 Flyers' Choice Awards, with Emirates named the region's preferred airline and Etihad Airways ranked third.
Emirates placed ahead of Qatar Airways, according to the awards which are based entirely on votes from travellers rather than an expert judging panel. The results also saw UAE carriers feature prominently across several global categories.
Emirates' regional win was reinforced by its performance across cabin classes. It was second in Preferred Business Class behind Qatar Airways and second in Preferred Economy behind Singapore Airlines, while taking first place in Premium Economy.
Etihad's strongest results came in passenger trust and service. It ranked third globally in both Best Cabin Crew and Peace of Mind, placing behind Singapore Airlines and Qantas in the latter category. Emirates also appeared in the Peace of Mind ranking, taking fourth place.
The passenger-voted awards are designed to reflect travellers' experiences and preferences across areas including cabin products, service and confidence in airlines.
AirlineRatings.com said they differ from its safety and best-airline rankings, which are determined by its editorial team using measurable criteria.
Singapore Airlines emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 awards, securing four titles - Preferred Economy Airline, Best Cabin Crew Service, Preferred Airline in Central and South-East Asia, and the airline giving passengers the greatest "peace of mind".
AirlineRatings.com CEO Sharon Petersen said the awards demonstrate the importance of passenger confidence and consistency, noting that trust in an airline is built over time.
The awards also showed strong regional loyalty, with six of the seven regional winners retaining their 2025 titles.
Delta Air Lines retained the USA/Canada title, British Airways kept its UK/Europe crown, Cathay Pacific remained the preferred airline in North East Asia, Singapore Airlines retained Central and South East Asia, Qantas held onto Australia and the Pacific, and Emirates remained the top airline in the Middle East and Africa.
The only change came in South and Central America, where LATAM replaced 2025 winner Avianca as the region's preferred airline.
