This Gulf airline soars above the rest to be named the world’s best in 2025

With millions of travellers travelling abroad every year, choosing the right airline matters. This year, readers of The Times and Sunday Times have voted Emirates as the best long-haul airline of 2025. More than 900,000 votes were cast across airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, and hotels in the annual Travel Awards, as reported by The Times.

For the first time, the awards distinguished between short-haul and long-haul carriers to reflect modern travel habits. In the long-haul category, Emirates took first place, followed by British Airways in second and Singapore Airlines in third.

Rank	Airline
1	Emirates
2	British Airways
3	Singapore Airlines

Emirates remains a reader favourite for its service, first-class suites with showers, and spacious Airbus A380 fleet. The airline has also expanded its network this year, adding five new destinations, including Shenzhen, Damascus, and Siem Reap, while placing more than 300 new aircraft on order.


The UK flag carrier, British Airways has invested heavily in a £7 billion transformation programme, including new cabins, Airbus A320neo aircraft, and AI tools to improve scheduling. BA has seen improved performance, with 86% of flights departing on time from Heathrow in the first three months of 2025, as per The Times report.

Singapore Airlines, consistently ranked among the world’s best, operates 40 weekly flights between the UK and Singapore, increasing to daily services from Gatwick in spring 2025. The airline’s hub at Changi Airport is widely regarded as one of the world’s top airports.

Last year, Emirates also topped the overall airline category, with British Airways and Singapore Airlines as runners-up, showing consistency in travellers’ preferences.

The ranking of the awards highlight the airlines that combine service quality, route coverage, and reliability, giving travellers guidance on their preferred carriers for both short and long journeys.