A story published Wednesday, May 15, about Emirates airline launching an onboard shisha lounge was incorrect and based on erroneous information. Emirates has no plans to do so. Luxuo regrets the error.

Premium passengers traveling on Dubai-based airline Emirates will be exempt from the no-smoking policy starting next month, when the carrier debuts a shisha lounge on select jumbo jets.

Phuket, in the south of Thailand, has become the carrier’s 128th destination as Dubai-based Emirates launched a non-stop daily service on December 10.

Qantas Airways announced on Thursday that it was teaming up with Emirates of Dubai after ending a long-term partnership with British Airways.

Australian airline Qantas announced on Thursday that it would be teaming up with Dubai-based Emirates from April 2013. Qantas is ending a long-term relationship with British Airways and abandoning Singapore as a Qantas hub.

Emirates has unveiled the world’s widest seat-back television screens, to be installed on its new aircraft.

The new 12.1-inch screen is the largest economy class seatback system in the world, Emirates says, complete with high-definition displays — another first for the Dubai-based carrier.

New screens are also being installed in premium classes, Emirates said May 31, including a 27-inch widescreen in First Class and 20-inch screen in Business Class.

Qantas has kept its reputation sky high in the annual competition to determine the best wines served aboard the world’s airlines.

The Cellars in the Sky Awards, organized by Business Traveller Magazine UK, were announced at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Monday, with Qantas triumphing in no fewer than six categories. Delta, Jetstar, LAN, Qatar Airways, TAM, Emirates, Air France and Cathay Pacific also won awards.

Some 250 wines were entered by a total of 32 carriers, with the awards recognizing excellence in wines served in business and first class.

Middle Eastern airline Emirates has announced the launch of wireless internet access on board its fleet of flagship super-jumbo A380 aircraft.

Customers flying the massive planes, which operate between Dubai and destinations such as Paris and London, will now be able to use wifi-enabled devices on selected routes, Emirates confirmed December 12.

Eleven of the airline’s 19 planes have now been kitted out with the technology, with the remainder of the fleet following suit in the coming months.