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Emirates named world’s best airline in Skytrax awards

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Emirates

In a gala ceremony held at Farnborough Airshow, Skytrax presented the 2016 World Airline Awards. The leaders and top management from over 40 airlines from across the globe attended the event, where Emirates was voted the World’s Best Airline by air travellers.

At the awards event, Edward Plaisted of Skytrax commented: “we are honoured to have so many airlines travel here today and receive their accolades after being voted as Best Airlines in many different categories. For many years we have been dedicated to providing a survey and awards process that remains independent, and delivering an event that is aptly known as the Passenger’s Choice Awards. We have seen many familiar names here today appearing as repeat winners, which I guess reflects that in many cases ‘once a winner, always a winner’ in many customers eyes.

Emirates was named the to the prestigious title of best airline in the world, trumping last year’s winner Qatar Airways, which came second. Emirates also scooped up the awards for World’s Best Inflight Entertainment for a record 12th consecutive year, and Best Airline in the Middle East.

Singapore Airlines took third spot, followed by Cathay Pacific, both in last year’s top five, while ANA All Nippon Airways rose two places to come fifth.

The World’s Top 10 Airlines of 2016

  1. Emirates
  2. Qatar Airways
  3. Singapore Airlines
  4. Cathay Pacific
  5. ANA All Nippon Airways
  6. Etihad Airways
  7. Turkish Airlines
  8. EVA Air
  9. Qantas Airways
  10. Lufthansa

In other awards, Qatar Airways took gongs for the world’s best business class, best business class lounge and best airline staff in the Middle East, while Singapore was awarded the best airline in Asia and ANA All Nippon Airways was recognised for offering the world’s best airport services and having the best airline staff in Asia for the second year in a row.

Other accolades included the world’s best low-cost airline handed to Norwegian and the world’s most improved airline won by Thai Airways.

Skytrax World Airline Awards: A-Z of winners

  • Aegean Airlines Best Regional Airline in Europe
  • Aeroflot Russian Airlines Best Airline in Eastern Europe
  • Air Astana Best Airline in Central Asia / India, Best Airline Staff Service in Central Asia / India
  • Air France Best First Class Airline Lounge Dining, Best First Class Comfort Amenities
  • Air New Zealand World’s Best Premium Economy Class Cabin, World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seat
  • AirAsia World’s Best Low-Cost Airline, Best Low-Cost Airline in Asia
  • AirAsia X World’s Best Low Cost Airline Premium Cabin, World’s Best Low Cost Airline Premium Seat
  • ANA All Nippon Airways World’s Best Airport Services, Best Airline Staff Service in Asia
  • Asiana Airlines World’s Best Economy Class, Best Economy Seat, Best Economy Class Onboard Catering
  • Austrian Best Airline Staff Service in Europe Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras, Best Low-Cost Airline in South America, Best Airline Staff in South America
  • Bangkok Airways World’s Best Regional Airline, Best Regional Airline in Asia
  • Cathay Pacific Airways World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness, Best First Class Airline Lounge
  • Copa Airlines Best Airline in Central America / Caribbean, Best Regional Airline in Central America / Caribbean, Best Airline Staff Service in Central America / Caribbean
  • Emirates World’s Best Airline (Airline of the Year), World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment
  • Ethiopian Airlines Best Airline Staff Service in Africa
  • Etihad Airways World’s Best First Class, Best First Class Seat, Best First Class Onboard Catering
  • EVA Air Best Airline Transpacific, Best Business Class Comfort Amenities
  • Finnair Best Airline in Northern Europe
  • flyDubai Best Low Cost Airline in the Middle East
  • Garuda Indonesia World’s Best Cabin Crew
  • Hainan Airlines Best Airline in China, Best Airline Staff Service in China
  • Hawaiian Airlines Best Airline Staff Service in North America
  • Indigo Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia / India
  • Jetstar Airways Best Low-Cost Airline in Australia / Pacific
  • Juneyao Airlines Best Regional Airline in China
  • Kulula Best Low Cost Airline in Africa
  • LAN Airlines Best Airline in South America
  • Lufthansa Best Airline in Western Europe, Best Airline Transatlantic
  • NorwegianWorld’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline, Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe
  • Plaza Premium World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge
  • Porter Airlines Best Regional Airline in North America
  • Qantas Best Airline Australia in Pacific, Best Airline Staff in Australia / Pacific Best Premium Economy Onboard Catering
  • Qatar Airways World’s Best Business Class, Best Business Class Airline Lounge, Best Airline Staff in the Middle East
  • Royal Air Maroc Best Regional Airline in Africa
  • Singapore Airlines Best Airline in Asia, Best Business Class Airline Seat
  • Sky Airline Best Regional Airline South America
  • South African Airways Best Airline in Africa
  • Spring Airlines Best Low-Cost Airline in China
  • Star AllianceWorld’s Best Airline Alliance, World’s Best Airline Alliance Lounge
  • Thai Airways World’s Most Improved Airline, Best Airline Lounge Spa Facility
  • Thomson Airways World’s Best Leisure Airline
  • Turkish Airlines Best Airline in Europe, Best Airline in Southern Europe, Best Business Class Airline Catering, Best Business Class Lounge Dining
  • Virgin America Best Airline in North America, Best Low-Cost Airline in North America

Often referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry”, the World Airline Awards this year welcomed entries from more airlines than ever before. The winners are then chosen based on what is said to be “the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey”.

While the figures for this year’s awards are yet to be released, last year’s survey of 18.9 million passengers saw more than 245 airlines measured on 41 key performance standards, from the quality of check-in service and boarding procedures to cabin cleanliness and other indicators.

Source: The Telegraph, London

 

Love

Five days of Valentine’s experiences at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives

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In a place where the ocean stretches endlessly and time seems to soften, Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives reimagines Valentine’s Day as more than a single celebration. This February, love unfolds across five thoughtfully curated days, inviting couples to slow down, reconnect and savour moments that feel instinctive, intimate and deeply personal. Each experience is designed to complement the rhythm of island life, allowing romance to emerge naturally from playful beginnings to a graceful finale by the sea.

The journey begins on 10 February with a couples’ pickleball tournament, setting a light-hearted tone for the days ahead. Designed to spark laughter and friendly competition, the experience offers couples a chance to share a moment of fun, ease and connection, a reminder that love is often found in the simplest joys.

As the celebrations continue on 11 February, couples are invited to sail into the golden hour on a sunset cruise across calm Maldivian waters. With the sky awash in warm hues and the ocean gently unfolding beneath, the evening offers space to pause, raise a toast and reconnect, framed by one of nature’s most romantic settings.

On 12 February, the pace slows further with an early morning couples’ yoga session led by the resort’s spa team. As the island awakens, partners move in quiet harmony, focusing on balance, relaxation and shared presence. The experience offers a mindful interlude, grounding both body and mind while strengthening togetherness.

As sunset approaches on 13 February, romance takes on a celebratory note at the Sunset White Party. Dressed in white, couples gather for an evening of music, movement and island elegance. As the sky deepens in colour, the atmosphere comes alive with laughter and rhythm, culminating in a special reward for the evening’s most spirited dancing couple.

The five-day celebration reaches its crescendo on Valentine’s Day, 14 February, with an elegant gala dinner at Coral Beach. Set against sweeping ocean views, the evening brings refined flavours and a carefully curated ambience together, offering couples a memorable and romantic conclusion to their Valentine’s journey.

At Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, Valentine’s is not confined to a single date on the calendar. It is a series of shared experiences, playful, peaceful and heartfelt, designed to linger in memory long after the island fades from view. Book your Valentine’s escape now and celebrate love with five days of meaningful moments in a truly serene island setting.

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Love

Angsana Velavaru unveils Valentine’s Day experiences

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This Valentine’s Day, Angsana Velavaru invites couples to experience a romantic Maldives getaway designed for intimacy, connection, and unforgettable moments. Set within a private lagoon in the pristine South Nilandhe Atoll, the resort offers an idyllic Valentine’s Day escape for couples seeking privacy, wellbeing, and meaningful shared experiences.

On 14 February, Angsana Velavaru presents Valentine’s Day Under the Stars, a beachfront dining experience created exclusively for couples. Set along the shoreline, this elegant five-course dinner combines refined cuisine with ocean views, candlelit ambience, and personalised service, making it one of the most romantic Valentine’s Day dinners in the Maldives.

Beyond the evening celebration, the resort extends Valentine’s experiences throughout February with a curated programme of couples’ wellness and spa offerings. Designed to encourage relaxation and reconnection, these experiences include shared spa treatments at the award-winning Angsana Spa, private yoga sessions by the beach, and holistic rituals that promoted balance and wellbeing for couples.

Couples can enjoy sunset walks along white-sand beaches, floating breakfast in private pools, or tranquil time together in the resort’s signature beachfront and overwater villas. The iconic InOcean villas, offer exceptional privacy and panoramic ocean views, making them ideal for honeymooners and couples celebrating Valentine’s Day in the Maldives.

With its blend of romantic dining, couple’s spa experiences, and secluded island living, Angsana Velavaru offers one of the most distinctive Valentine’s Day resort experiences in the Maldives. Whether celebrating new love or deepening a lifelong bond, couples are invited to mark Valentine’s Day in a setting where romance feels natural, personal and timeless.

For more information on Valentine’s Day experiences and romantic stays at Angsana Velavaru, please visit the resort’s website.

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COMO Maalifushi introduces new all-inclusive experience, Simply COMO

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COMO Maalifushi, the only resort in the unspoiled Thaa Atoll, has announced the launch of a new all-inclusive plan – Simply COMO – available from February 1, 2026. Designed for depth over excess, this elevated experience brings together COMO Hotels and Resorts’ renowned culinary philosophy, transformative wellness, and bespoke ocean adventures into one effortless, thoughtfully curated journey.

Simply COMO reshapes the conventional all-inclusive approach. Dining spans multiple venues — from Mediterranean flavours at Thila to Japanese at Tai and the wellness-driven COMO Shambhala Kitchen — complemented by weekly chef-led themed dinners, beach BBQs and a curated beverage list including more than 50 labels of wines, variety of spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic options, complemented by a daily restocked in-villa private bar. Offering oceanfront dining, barefoot lunches and dinner under the stars, each culinary experience showcases the resort’s dedication to quality, simplicity, and naturally sourced ingredients.

Simply COMO includes an enriching selection of island and marine activities that reveal the beauty and unique surrounding COMO Maalifushi including:

  • Dolphin Sunset Cruise – a spectacle of nature creating a moment of wonder for guests they’ll never forget
  • Splash Boat Cruise – a must for the family at sunset to hop onto our dhoni’s splash net and experience the thrill of being towed through the ocean
  • Guided turtle and reef snorkeling safaris to experience the rich house reef in this remote atoll
  • Offshore sunset drop-line fishing, for a moment of calm as the sky turns gold (one per guest)

Wellness forms the heartbeat of Simply COMO, with inclusion of a signature COMO Shambhala massage per guest as well as daily movement classes – ranging from yoga and stretching to meditation and functional strength – all supported and enhanced by COMO Shambhala Kitchen, for those guests looking to enrich their wellness experience.

For families, Play by COMO offers younger guests a world of discovery, with dedicated supervision that gives parents complete peace of mind. Children can dive into purposeful, creative play including treasure hunts, fort building, yoga sessions, and conservation projects, while parents embrace the island’s natural beauty and curated barefoot rituals. Thoughtful touches, from handcrafted afternoon tea to an all-day ice-cream bar, add a gentle sense of indulgence for little ones too.

Designed to meet the needs of every type of traveller, Simply COMO brings people together across generations – appealing to couples seeking privacy and reconnection, families looking for effortless bonding, and wellness seekers drawn to restorative practices – while inviting everyone to explore the Maldives’ extraordinary marine life and unique position of COMO Maalifushi.

“With Simply COMO, we focused on creating an experience that feels effortless yet elevated,” says Peter Nilsson, Managing Director, COMO Maldives. “Every element — from cuisine and wellness to our ocean-led adventures — has been crafted to feel distinctly COMO.”

Simply COMO all-inclusive plan is available to book now for stays from February 1, 2026, offered alongside the resort’s existing Half Board meal plan to provide guests with flexible choices tailored to their style of travel.

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