Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has won three prestigious global titles at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2025 held in Bahrain. The airline was awarded World’s Leading Airline Customer Experience, World’s Leading Airline Economy Class, and World’s Leading Airline Lounge Business Class for the Etihad Airways Premium Lounge at Zayed International Airport.

Sharing his thoughts on the achievement, Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said, “Winning three global titles at the World Travel Awards is a testament to the passion and commitment our entire Etihad family brings to every journey. These awards reflect our dedication to delivering extraordinary experiences across every cabin and every touchpoint, from the moment our guests arrive at Zayed International Airport and onboard every flight. We are honoured to be recognised by industry peers and travellers as the World’s Leading Airline in Customer Experience, and we will continue raising the bar for excellence in global aviation.”

The awards highlight the airline’s strong performance over the past year and the high standards it maintains across its operations. Travel professionals from around the world nominated Etihad in 13 categories, including World’s Leading Airline, World’s Leading Airline Cabin Crew, and World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme, Etihad Guest. Zayed International Airport, the airline’s hub in Abu Dhabi, was also nominated for World’s Leading Airport and World’s Leading Airport Customer Experience.

The year 2025 has been a milestone for Etihad. The airline witnessed remarkable growth and introduced several enhancements to improve passenger comfort. Among its notable achievements was the introduction of the A321LR aircraft in August. This new addition enabled major network expansion and set new standards for short and medium haul travel. The aircraft offers two private First Class suites, 14 fully-flat Business Class seats with direct aisle access, and 144 spacious Economy seats, all equipped with 4K screens and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Speaking about this development, Antonoaldo Neves added, “With the introduction of our new A321LR, we are able to offer a truly world-class experience on more routes and at greater frequency, making it easier than ever for guests from around the world to discover everything our home has to offer. Every enhancement we’ve made this year reflects our commitment to welcoming more travellers to Abu Dhabi with the highest levels of comfort and care.”

Earlier in the year, at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2025, Etihad won five regional titles, including World’s Leading Airline Customer Experience, World’s Leading Airline Economy Class, World’s Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment, World’s Leading Airline Lounge Business Class, and World’s Leading Cabin Crew.

The World Travel Awards, established more than 30 years ago, are regarded as one of the most respected recognitions in the global travel and tourism sector, celebrating excellence across all major segments of the industry.