Brandwave

Cathay Pacific vs Emirates:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Emirates had more branded searches than Cathay Pacific among airline brands worldwide. Emirates had about 4.1 million branded searches, while Cathay Pacific had 1.5 million. Emirates made up 12.9% of all airline brand searches we track, and Cathay Pacific accounted for 4.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airline brands, Emirates appeared in three of the five answers and Cathay Pacific in two. Emirates was mentioned before Cathay Pacific in two out of three answers that named either.

Among airline brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Emirates, about 3 searches for every 1 for Cathay Pacific

Emirates 4.1M searchesCathay Pacific 1.5M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Emirates, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Cathay Pacific in 2

Emirates in 3 of 5Cathay Pacific in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Emirates, named ahead of Cathay Pacific in 2 of 3 answers

Emirates first in 2Cathay Pacific first in 1

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Top airline brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Emirates was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Cathay Pacific was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Emirates was listed before Cathay Pacific in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Delta Air Lines1st
  2. Qatar Airways2nd
  3. Singapore Airlines3rd
  4. Southwest Airlines4th
  5. United Airlines5th
  6. Emirates6th
  7. Cathay Pacific7th
  8. British Airways–
  9. Qantas–
  10. Air New Zealand–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • United Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Emirates3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Southwest Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Delta Air Lines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Qatar Airways3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Singapore Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cathay Pacific2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • British Airways0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Qantas0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Air New Zealand0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about airline brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Cathay Pacific or Emirates more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Cathay Pacific and Emirates by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten airline brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Cathay Pacific and Emirates among airline brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Emirates, Cathay Pacific. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUnited AirlinesBritish AirwaysEmiratesSouthwest AirlinesDelta Air LinesQatar AirwaysSingapore AirlinesCathay PacificQantasAir New Zealand
Oct 202517.9%12%14.6%14.6%9.8%12%6.5%5.3%5.3%2%
Nov 202519.1%10.4%15.6%12.7%10.4%12.7%7%4.7%5.7%1.7%
Dec 202520.1%11%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%6%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Jan 202616.4%13.4%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%7.3%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Feb 202618.1%12.1%14.8%14.8%9.9%12.1%6.6%4.4%5.4%1.6%
Mar 202616.2%10.8%19.7%10.8%8.8%16.2%7.2%4.8%4%1.5%
Apr 202618.8%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
May 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jun 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jul 202618.4%12.3%12.3%15%12.3%12.3%6.7%4.5%4.5%1.7%
Aug 202618.6%12.4%12.4%15.2%12.4%10.2%6.8%4.6%5.6%1.7%
Sep 202619.3%15.7%12.9%12.9%10.5%10.5%7%4.7%4.7%1.7%

How has the Cathay Pacific and Emirates comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Emirates was ahead of Cathay Pacific in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cathay Pacific’s share of searches among airline brands worldwide moved from 5.3% to 4.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.8M to 1.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Emirates’ share of searches among airline brands worldwide moved from 14.6% to 12.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5M to 4.1M.

How did search popularity change for airline brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Emirates rose from 5th to 3rd among airline brands worldwide.

  2. In September 2026, Cathay Pacific rose from 9th to 8th among airline brands worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cathay Pacific’s and Emirates’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Cathay Pacific

1 branded search term

  • cathay pacific

Emirates

1 branded search term

  • emirates

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among airline brands

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