Qatar Airways has further cemented its reputation as a global aviation leader by sweeping the top honors at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, held at the Paris Air Show’s Air and Space Museum.

The airline was named the World’s Best Airline for a record ninth time, an unprecedented achievement in the 26-year history of the awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of the aviation industry”. This recognition highlights Qatar Airways’ sustained excellence in service, innovation, and passenger satisfaction.

In addition to the coveted overall title, Qatar Airways dominated the Business Class categories. The airline was awarded World’s Best Business Class, with its signature Qsuite once again earning praise for its industry-leading privacy, comfort, and innovative design.

The Qsuite’s unique features, such as sliding doors and the option to create double beds or private suites for families and colleagues, have set new benchmarks for business travel luxury.

The Al Mourjan Garden Lounge at Hamad International Airport in Doha was named the World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge, recognized for its sophisticated design, extensive amenities, and tranquil atmosphere that offers travelers a premium pre-flight experience.

The lounge is part of the airport’s broader commitment to excellence, with Hamad International itself having recently been awarded for the world’s best airport shopping experience.

Qatar Airways also retained the title of Best Airline in the Middle East, further establishing its dominance in the region amid strong competition from other Gulf carriers like Emirates and Saudia.

CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer emphasized that these accolades are a testament to the passion, precision, and dedication of the airline’s staff, both on the frontlines and behind the scenes, as they strive to set new standards in aviation.

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted lauded Qatar Airways’ remarkable achievement, noting the airline’s consistently high performance across multiple categories and its role in shaping the future of air travel.

The airline’s continued recognition as a Skytrax Five-Star Airline further underscores its mission to deliver world-class service and inspire loyalty among millions of travelers worldwide.

Emirates is set to expand its service to Barcelona with the introduction of a third daily flight starting October 26, 2025, responding to rising demand and enhancing connectivity between Dubai and the Catalonian capital. This new service will increase Emirates’ weekly flights to Barcelona to 21, providing greater flexibility and capacity for both business and leisure travelers.

The new flight will be operated primarily with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, featuring 354 to 360 seats, and will join the existing daily flights operated by Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. The three daily departures from Dubai International Airport (DXB) are scheduled at 3:45 AM, 8:15 AM, and 2:00 PM, arriving at Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) in the morning and early evening.

 Return flights from Barcelona will depart at 3:10 PM, 3:30 PM, and 8:25 PM, allowing for smooth connections to Emirates’ extensive global network.

Barcelona is renowned for its stunning architecture, vibrant food scene, and beautiful beaches, making it a popular destination. The increased flight frequency will also facilitate easier onward travel to key destinations in Asia and the Indian Ocean region, including the Maldives, Bangkok, Bali, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Emirates aims to optimize the new schedule to reduce layover times in Dubai, enabling passengers to connect efficiently to onward flights, such as afternoon departures to the Maldives arriving the same evening.
Emirates currently operates 28 weekly flights to Spain, split evenly between Madrid and Barcelona, with seven Barcelona flights extending to Mexico City, offering convenient transatlantic connections.

The third daily flight will mark the largest seat capacity ever offered on the Dubai-Barcelona route since Emirates launched the service.

Passengers can book tickets through emirates.com, the Emirates App, authorized travel agents, and Emirates retail stores. Emirates releases its tickets continually, up to 340 days before departure, so travelers looking to secure the best fares or reward seats should book early to maximize availability and savings.

In addition to expanding flight services, Emirates has recently partnered with Uber to enhance the travel experience. Frequent Uber riders in select markets can earn Emirates Skywards miles, which can be redeemed for discounted flights and other benefits. Conversely, Emirates customers booking flights may receive Uber ride vouchers, facilitating smoother and more affordable airport transfers.

This partnership aims to create a seamless journey from doorstep to destination, rewarding customers both on the ground and in the air[Memory].

Overall, the new third daily flight to Barcelona strengthens Emirates’ position as a key connector between Spain and the Middle East, Asia, and beyond, catering to increasing travel demand and offering passengers enhanced convenience and choice.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been recognized as the world’s second-best airline for 2025 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, held during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport. The awards, often dubbed the “Oscars of the aviation industry,” are determined by passenger votes, with this year’s survey drawing responses from over 22 million travelers and evaluating more than 325 airlines globally.

Qatar Airways claimed the top spot for a record ninth time, while Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and ANA All Nippon Airways completed the top five.

Despite not reclaiming the top position, SIA achieved an impressive sweep of major accolades, including World’s Best Cabin Crew, World’s Best First Class, and Best Airline in Asia. Its First Class suites, renowned for their spacious design and luxury amenities, were highlighted as industry leaders. The airline also received recognition for its business and economy class offerings, maintaining its reputation for service excellence across all cabin classes.

The Skytrax awards are highly regarded in the industry, with winners selected through independent surveys that have been conducted annually since 1999. The event saw attendance from around 500 airline representatives, including senior executives and uniformed cabin crew, underscoring its significance within the aviation sector.

SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, was also honored as the World’s Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline, reflecting the group’s broad appeal and commitment to quality at multiple price points. The consistent performance of Singapore Airlines, which has previously won the World’s Best Airline title five times, is seen as a testament to its enduring focus on customer experience, innovation, and operational excellence.

The Skytrax methodology relies on passenger feedback regarding various aspects of the travel experience, including cabin comfort, onboard service, and catering, making the awards a direct reflection of customer satisfaction. SIA’s continued presence at the top of these rankings highlights its global standing and the loyalty it commands among travelers worldwide

Etihad Airways is set to elevate the travel experience between Sydney and Abu Dhabi with the introduction of its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on select flights starting October 1, 2025. These aircraft feature one of the airline’s most luxurious business class cabins, offering 44 private suites designed to provide the comfort and exclusivity of first class within a business class setting.

Each business suite is equipped with sliding privacy doors, fully flat beds, and advanced in-flight entertainment systems, ensuring passengers can relax and arrive refreshed after the long-haul journey. The A350-1000’s cutting-edge design also contributes to a quieter, more comfortable cabin atmosphere, with features such as larger windows and improved air filtration.

Technologically advanced and environmentally efficient, the A350-1000 is constructed from lightweight carbon polymer materials and powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. This combination reduces fuel consumption by approximately 25% and lowers carbon emissions, making it one of the most eco-friendly aircraft in operation.

Initially, the A350 will complement the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Sydney-Abu Dhabi route, with both aircraft offering the premium business suites. From January 31, 2026, all ten weekly Etihad flights from Sydney will be operated exclusively by the A350, while Melbourne flights will continue daily on the 787-9.

Passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi will benefit from the recently opened Zayed International Airport, which has been acclaimed as the world’s most beautiful airport. The $4.8 billion facility incorporates advanced AI technologies, including facial recognition and smart passenger processing systems, allowing travelers to move swiftly from curbside to gate in as little as 12 minutes.

With this upgrade, Etihad Airways promises Australian travelers a seamless blend of luxury, innovation, and sustainability, ensuring that their journey is as exceptional as their destination.

Vietnam Airlines will inaugurate a direct flight service between Hanoi and Milan, Italy, starting July 1, 2025, marking the first time a Vietnamese carrier offers nonstop flights to Italy. The new route will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, enhancing connectivity between Vietnam and Europe.

This milestone expands Vietnam Airlines’ European network to nine direct routes, including existing flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Paris, Frankfurt, London, and soon Munich. The airline also plans to launch a direct Ho Chi Minh City–Milan service after 2025, further strengthening ties between the two countries.

Milan, Italy’s second-largest city and a global fashion and cultural hub, attracts millions of tourists, especially during summer months. Italy is a popular destination for Vietnamese travelers, and visitor numbers from Italy to Vietnam have surged by 155% in 2024, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

The new direct route is expected to boost tourism and facilitate economic, social, and political exchanges between Vietnam and Italy, with ongoing negotiations for a visa waiver for Vietnamese tour groups.

Tickets are now available on Vietnam Airlines’ website and official channels, with promotional fares starting at around USD 810 for round-trip economy tickets in July 2025. Flight VN73 departs Hanoi at 00:45, arriving in Milan at 07:40; the return flight VN72 leaves Milan at 12:45, arriving in Hanoi at 04:35 the next day.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates a modern fleet including Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, A321, and A320neo aircraft, and continues to expand its international services with plans to launch or revive 15 new routes this year.

This new Hanoi-Milan service represents a strategic expansion of Vietnam Airlines’ global network, offering greater travel flexibility and fostering stronger international ties between Vietnam, Italy, and Europe.

Following Israel's recent airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, Air Arabia has announced extensive flight cancellations affecting ten countries amid escalating regional tensions and widespread airspace closures. The Sharjah-based low-cost carrier temporarily suspended flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, with cancellations initially covering June 13 and 14 and extended through June 17 for some routes.

The disruptions stem from Israel's military campaign aimed at halting Iran's nuclear weapon development, which triggered the closure of airspace over Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and neighboring countries, severely impacting key air corridors between Europe and Asia. Air Arabia's affected routes include major cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Erbil, Baghdad, Najaf, Basra, Amman, Beirut, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Baku, Almaty, and Tashkent. Flights between Ras Al Khaimah and Moscow, as well as Abu Dhabi and Moscow, Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku, have also been canceled, including return flights to the UAE.

Other UAE carriers have similarly curtailed operations: Emirates suspended flights to Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon until late June; Etihad Airways canceled Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv flights through June 17 and adjusted schedules for Amman and Beirut; flydubai halted flights to Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Israel with some aircraft rerouted or returned mid-flight for safety. Dubai International Airport, Dubai World Central, and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport have reported delays and cancellations, urging passengers to verify flight status before traveling.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory urging nationals and residents in the region to stay updated and register with consular services for emergency support. Airlines emphasize passenger and crew safety as their highest priority and advise travelers to monitor official airline websites for real-time updates, rebooking options, and refunds due to the fluid security situation.

This extensive disruption highlights the profound impact of geopolitical conflicts on global aviation, with airlines forced to navigate rapidly changing airspace restrictions to ensure safety amid rising tensions in the Middle East