Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, was named the best long-haul airline in the Middle East and Africa and the best in in-flight entertainment by independent ranking company AirlineRatings.com.
The Dubai-based airline took home the awards after AirlineRatings.com revealed the world's best airlines for 2019 in Singapore. Emirates featured in the top 10.
To rank in the top ten, airlines must achieve a seven-star safety rating and show innovation in passenger comfort.
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Aviation
SaudiGulf airlines and Airbus sign $1.1bn deal for 10 A320 Neo planes
Emirates' first-half profit slides as fuel bill climbs
Etihad Airways and Gulf Air consider deeper co-operation
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“Emirates has been an industry benchmark in cabin innovation and aircraft for years and dominates long-haul travel, with a level of service that only a few equal," AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas said.
“Emirates was one of the pioneers of inflight entertainment (IFE), and one of the first to install seatback videos in economy. Today’s its IFE platform ICE is in a class of its own.”
Emirates's luxurious first-class cabins were also given a thumbs-up at the FTE Asia Awards in Singapore on Thursday. The airline topped the in-flight experiences amongst West Asian airlines to bag the Best Customer Experience Initiative award in the ‘Up in the Air’ category.
Emirates unveiled its new first-class cabins last year in November, which feature floor-to-ceiling doors that evoke the sense of being on a luxury train than on a commercial flight.
The airline is competing against the likes of Singapore Airlines for well-heeled passengers travelers by attempting to provide a private-jet experience onboard their planes.
On Thursday Emirates warned it will face a "tough" six months ahead after reporting an 86 per cent plunge in profits during the first-half of its fiscal year due to higher fuel costs and unfavourable currency fluctuations.
World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
