Emirates has been recognised as the ‘Best Overall Airline in the Middle East’ at the 2026 APEX Best in Airline Awards, further reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading aviation brands.
The accolade was presented at a ceremony held in Dublin, Ireland, following verified passenger feedback that highlighted Emirates’ consistent performance across five key areas — seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and connectivity.
Emirates continues to receive strong recognition for its commitment to passenger comfort across its Airbus A380, A350, and Boeing 777 fleets. Through ongoing cabin upgrades and its extensive retrofit programme, the airline continues to enhance the onboard experience with improved seating, modern features, and greater passenger convenience.
The airline’s cabins are designed to provide comfort across every travel class. Emirates Premium Economy offers spacious seating with enhanced support, while Business Class continues to evolve with advanced seating concepts featuring greater privacy, lie-flat capabilities, wireless charging, and upgraded amenities. Emirates First Class remains a benchmark in luxury travel with fully enclosed private suites, personalised settings, and premium onboard experiences.
Customer service was another key factor behind the recognition, with Emirates’ multinational cabin crew delivering hospitality shaped by excellence, attentiveness, innovation, and passion. With employees representing more than 140 nationalities and speaking over 70 languages, the airline continues to focus on creating personalised and memorable journeys.
Emirates’ food and beverage offering also contributed to its award-winning passenger experience. Across all cabin classes, customers enjoy destination-inspired menus, carefully selected beverages, and a wide range of meal options catering to different dietary and cultural preferences. Premium experiences include fine dining elements such as Royal Doulton tableware in Premium Economy, gourmet menus in Business Class, and signature First Class offerings including dine-on-demand service and unlimited caviar.
The airline’s award-winning ice entertainment system remains a major highlight, offering more than 6,500 channels of entertainment including movies, television shows, music, podcasts, documentaries, live sports, and children’s content. Partnerships with leading entertainment platforms further expand the range of content available to passengers.
Emirates is also advancing its inflight connectivity experience through its partnership with Starlink, introducing high-speed internet access designed to help passengers stream, work, browse, and stay connected throughout their journey. The rollout across the airline’s fleet is part of Emirates’ wider commitment to enhancing digital convenience for travellers.
The 2026 APEX recognition reflects Emirates’ continued focus on delivering a world-class travel experience through innovation, comfort, hospitality, and customer-focused service.
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Strengthens Commitment to Road Safety Initiatives
Road safety continues to remain a critical national concern in Sri Lanka, with unsafe driving practices, speeding, distracted driving, and negligence among motorists and pedestrians contributing to increasing road accidents and fatalities.
According to Sri Lanka Police statistics, more than 3,642 road accidents were reported during the first two months of 2026 alone, including 405 fatal accidents resulting in 422 deaths. In 2025, road accidents claimed 2,732 lives, with pedestrians and motorcyclists among the most affected groups. Despite improvements compared to previous years, the continued impact of road accidents highlights the urgent need for stronger awareness and responsible road behaviour.
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd. (SLICGL), in partnership with Ran FM, recently conducted a nationwide road safety awareness campaign in Borella on 18 May as part of National Road Safety Week 2026. The initiative focused on educating motorists, pedestrians, and other road users on safe practices and the importance of preventing accidents.
The Borella programme forms part of a broader year-round road safety initiative by SLICGL, which continues to engage communities, partners, and road users across the island.
As Sri Lanka’s leading motor insurer through its flagship Motor Plus cover, SLICGL recognises road safety as a key responsibility towards its customers and the wider public. The campaign was conducted as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, highlighting that creating safer roads requires collective responsibility from every individual.
The programme engaged motorists, schoolchildren, pedestrians, and public transport users through awareness activities, educational sessions, and public communication initiatives. Drivers were encouraged to follow traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds, avoid mobile phone use while driving, wear seat belts, and practise defensive driving.
Special attention was also given to pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren and elderly road users, highlighting the importance of using designated crossings, following traffic signals, and remaining alert in traffic environments.
Through its collaboration with Ran FM, SLICGL further expanded the reach of the campaign by using media engagement and public communication to promote safer road practices nationwide.
The latest initiative builds on SLICGL’s long-standing commitment to road safety, including its ‘I Am a Safe Driver’ campaign, which engaged thousands of school transport operators across all districts to encourage responsible driving and improve child safety. The initiative included the distribution of educational materials, safety stickers, and vehicle tags to support safer practices among school transport providers.
Beyond awareness programmes, SLICGL continues to maintain engagement with stakeholders to encourage ongoing accountability, recognising that sustainable road safety improvements require continuous commitment.
Through these initiatives, SLICGL continues to strengthen its role not only as Sri Lanka’s leading insurer but also as a proactive partner in protecting lives and promoting responsible road behaviour across the country.
Emirates Wins Top Honour as ‘Best Overall Airline in the Middle East’ at 2026 APEX Awards
