Emirates President Sir Tim Clark was the headline figure at this year’s ULTRAs travel awards in Dubai, where he received a rare Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation. The honour marked a defining moment in a career that began in 1972 and has shaped modern long-haul travel. Clark, who joined Emirates in 1985 and became President in 2003, has overseen the airline’s rise from a modest Gulf start-up to one of the world’s most influential international carriers. His long-standing emphasis on innovation, ambitious fleet strategy and network expansion was recognised not only by the ULTRAs, but also recently by the Wings Club Foundation’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
The ULTRAs ceremony also became a celebration of Emirates itself. The airline was named ‘Best Airline in the World’ for the eighth consecutive year, based on votes from Ultratravel’s network of 1.2 million frequent travellers. Emirates additionally secured ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class’, reflecting the rapid success of its newest cabin product.
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“It’s an honour to celebrate our eighth year as ‘best airline in the world’ at the ULTRAs, and thank you to all the travellers who gave us their vote,” Clark said. “At Emirates, we want every customer to ‘fly better’, and that’s why we never stop investing into the Emirates experience.”
Emirates’ win reflects its extensive network of more than 150 destinations, its flagship fleet of A380s, A350s and 777s, and a consistently world-leading onboard product—private suites, onboard lounges, shower spas, gourmet dining and 6,500 channels of entertainment. The airline’s Premium Economy cabin continues to expand, now available on routes to 61 cities and offering cream-leather seating, a pitch of up to 40 inches, elevated dining and dedicated airport services.
The ULTRAs accolades add to an already packed awards list in 2025, including recognition from Forbes Travel Guide, The Times, Business Traveller Middle East, The Telegraph, YouGov, and the World Travel Awards. Emirates Skywards also secured honours as the world’s leading airline loyalty programme.
