Emirates has added two prestigious awards to its collection, following global recognition at the 2026 APEX/IFSA Global EXPO held in Long Beach, California. The Dubai-based carrier received the 2026 APEX Best™ Global Entertainment Award for its inflight entertainment system ‘ice’, and the 2026 APEX WORLD CLASS™ award, recognising the airline’s excellence across all areas of customer experience.
The APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) awards are based on verified passenger feedback and professional audits, making them one of the industry’s most trusted benchmarks for airline performance.
‘Ice’ Named Best Global Inflight Entertainment System
From a field of over 600 airlines worldwide, Emirates emerged as the winner of the APEX Best™ Global Entertainment Award. This accolade was determined from more than one million passenger ratings.
Emirates’ ‘ice’ (information, communication, entertainment) system has long been hailed as one of the most comprehensive in the skies. Currently offering over 6,500 channels in more than 40 languages, ice features 2,000 films, 650 TV series, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Partnerships with content giants such as HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+, Discovery+, and Spotify ensure that passengers have access to trending and high-quality programming. Live TV, covering sports and global news, is available across five dedicated channels, while real-time updates and external cameras enhance the passenger’s in-flight awareness and experience.
Looking ahead, Emirates is also investing heavily in next-generation entertainment. A US$ 350 million rollout of Thales’ AVANT Up system on its incoming fleet of 50 Airbus A350s promises 4K QLED HDR displays, a tripling of content capacity, advanced connectivity, and an upgraded user interface.
Sixth Consecutive APEX WORLD CLASS™ Award
In addition to the entertainment recognition, Emirates also secured the 2026 APEX WORLD CLASS™ award—a distinction it has now held for six years running.
This elite status recognises all facets of the airline’s performance, from safety and sustainability to catering, comfort, and brand integrity. The award is unique in that it is determined by audits conducted by industry professionals on live flights, offering a real-time measure of service excellence.
Emirates’ latest accolades build on a string of recent honours. The airline was named ‘Best Long Haul Airline’ at The Telegraph Travel Awards 2025, based on votes from over 20,000 readers. It also earned a spot as 2025’s Most Recommended Global Brand by YouGov—the only airline to appear in the top 10.
