Dubai-based Emirates Airline has been awarded World's Best Airline, in the 2016 World Airline Awards, knocking Cathay Pacific off the top spot from last year. 

The awards are based on research by Skytrax’s World Airline Survey, and voted for by air travelers. 

19.2 million people, from 104 nationalities, voted online from August 2015 to May 2016. 

This year sees the top ten dominated by Middle East carriers, particularly GCC-based airlines, including Emirates in first place (replacing Cathay Pacific in last year's awards), Qatar Airways in second place (replacing Singapore Airlines), and Etihad Airways in sixth place.

Within the wider Middle East region, Turkish Airlines comes into the list in seventh place. 

Commenting on the achievement, Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark said: "We are honored to be recognized by the prestigious Skytrax awards. Emirates has always put our customers at the heart of what we do, and we work hard to deliver the very best experience possible to our customers at every touchpoint, every day, all around the world."