Emirates has been crowned the World Class Airline 2024 at the APEX/IFSA Awards in Long Beach, California. Furthermore, in recognition of their class amenity kits, the airline also received a 2024 IFSA Award for ‘Best Onboard Amenity’.
APEX World Class Airline 2024
APEX is one of the world’s largest international airline associations. It is a global, non-profit organisation with a mission to enhance airline passenger experiences sustainably through meaningful engagement, innovation, recognition, and collaboration across the entirety of the global aviation industry. It aims to be the passengers’ voice and aid the aviation industry in investing in more sustainable and collaborative solutions to enhance all passengers’ travels.
The APEX Official Airline Ratings™ was the aviation industry’s first-ever validated and certified industry award upon which the airline’s passengers rate their overall experience of an airline from 1 through 5, with five stars being the highest honour. This rating body has since become how APEX credits airlines with the WORLD CLASS award. The award is a way to recognise the airlines that excel in customer experience.
Emirates’ Commitment To Excellence
The airline’s commitment to ensuring passengers “fly better” was highlighted in their receipt of the World Class Airlines award. This was a big honour for Emirates, one of only eight airlines to achieve this award. The airline has been recognised for mastering guest experience and demonstrating the highest global standard for delivering outstanding customer service, as well as being evaluated through an audit of its quality of service, safety, and health control initiatives.
After celebrating a year of record profits, as well as a successful first year of the Premium Economy Class, the airline has largely invested in enhancing its onboard services with new menus (including vegan options), experiencing champagne and caviar in first class, specialised hospitality training for cabin crew, upgraded cabin interiors within ALL classes, and many more. Emirates is also making notable steps in its journey towards a more sustainable future with its recent commitment of $200 million to fund research and development projects that are focused on reducing fossil fuel impacts within commercial aviation, as well as partnering with leading organisations to work towards solutions in advanced fuel and energy technologies.
The APEX CEO, Dr. Joe Leader, said,
“Tonight, we did more than merely acknowledge the prowess and passion of the airline industry, we paid tribute to 2024 APEX World Class trailblazers like Emirates, who have unequivocally etched a golden chapter in the annals of air travel beyond five stars. I had the privilege of spending invaluable moments with President Sir Tim Clark at APEX’s FTE EMEA event in Dublin earlier this year. The insights, the vision, the sheer audacity of Emirates’ approach to revolutionizing the skies carried in every word he shared. Emirates is not just an airline; it’s a symphony of innovation, ambition, and undying commitment to excellence.”
Economy Class Amenity Kits – Emirates Sustainable Luxury
The airline also won a 2024 IFSA Award for “Best Onboard Amenity” for its incredible range of economy-class amenity kits and more complimentary for passengers on long-haul flights.
The pouches are reusable and made from washable kraft paper and feature bespoke art printed in non-toxic soy-based ink to show their journey in becoming more sustainable. The kit’s contents include a selection of durable travel essentials – all made with environmentally friendly materials – such as a toothbrush that is made from wheat, straw, and plastic, as well socks and eyemasks that are made from recycled plastic (rPET – recycled polyethylene terephthalate).
In addition to the amenity kits, Emirates has also invested in several other initiatives for economy-class customers, which also focus on being more sustainable where possible, such as cosy blankets that are made from recycled plastic bottles – a scheme that has prevented over 95 million plastic bottles from going to landfill across the past six years. Baby amenity kits and toy bags for the younger generation flying with Emirates are also available, all made from sustainable materials, recycled plastic bottles, and the introduction of wooden tea and coffee stirrers onboard.
What are your thoughts on Emirates being crowned as the 2024 World Class Airline? Let us know in the comments!
