Emirates Clinches Top Awards For Inflight Entertainment, Connectivity, And Premium Economy

Emirates has once again solidified its position as a leader in inflight services, scooping top awards at the 2024 Pax International Magazine Awards and the AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards. The Dubai-based airline was honoured for 'Best Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity Middle East’ at a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany on 29 May, recognized for its outstanding Wi-Fi connectivity and the vast array of content on its ice system. Additionally, Emirates clinched first place for both 'Best-Inflight Entertainment’ and 'Best Premium Economy’ at the AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards.

Committed to providing superior onboard connectivity, Emirates has been a pioneer in the industry since enabling inflight Wi-Fi in 1993 and launching inflight mobile phone service in 2007. With over US$ 300 million invested in connectivity enhancements, Emirates offers all passengers free connectivity, subject to membership in its Emirates Skywards program. Benefits extend across all travel classes, with complimentary internet for Skywards members in Business and First Class, and additional perks for Silver, Gold, and Platinum members in Economy and Premium Economy. Blue tier members enjoy free app messaging.

The introduction of 50 new Airbus A350s into Emirates’ fleet this year marks a significant upgrade in inflight broadband capabilities. These aircraft will feature Inmarsat's GX Aviation-powered high-speed connectivity, accessible even over the Arctic, thanks to the Global Xpress satellite network.

Emirates ice, the airline’s entertainment system, boasts 6,500 channels of diverse content, refreshed monthly. Before flying, customers can use the Emirates app to pre-select their entertainment choices, which are then syncable to ice upon boarding. The offerings are extensive, including over 2,000 movies from Hollywood and international cinema, hundreds of TV series and box sets, more than 200 documentaries, and a wide selection of Arabic and Bollywood content. Accessibility features such as Closed Captions and Audio Description cater to visually impaired passengers. Music lovers can explore over 3,500 albums, and live TV channels cover news and sports. For family entertainment, there are over 250 channels dedicated to kids and family content.

Emirates’ Premium Economy Class

The newly launched Premium Economy Class by Emirates sets a high standard, offering comforts comparable to Business Class on other airlines. Passengers enjoy leather seats with up to 40 inches of pitch, a 19.5 inches wide seat, and an 8-inch recline. Additional features include calf rests, footrests, a 6-way adjustable headrest, in-seat charging points, and a 13.3" TV screen, one of the largest in its class. Comfort extends to sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic, sizeable pillows, complimentary amenity kits, and welcome drinks served in fine glassware. The dining experience features generous meals crafted from seasonal ingredients and regional influences, served on chinaware with stainless steel cutlery.

Currently, Emirates’ Premium Economy Class is available on 15 routes, including London Heathrow, Sydney, Melbourne, Christchurch, Auckland, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, San Francisco, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Tokyo Narita, Sao Paulo, Dubai, and Osaka from June 11th. This expansion demonstrates Emirates’ commitment to enhancing passenger comfort and choice across its global network.