• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home  >  Travel  >  The Cleanest Airlines In The World
Travel

The Cleanest Airlines In The World

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 11, 2019 17 Comments

A new list is out claiming to name the world’s cleanest airlines according to passengers. Disclaimer: the rankings come from Skytrax. However, I actually tend to agree with the list.

Travelers were asked to rate airlines on the following cleanliness metrics:

  • seating areas
  • tables
  • carpets
  • cabin panels
  • toilets

Unsurprisingly, Asian (specifically Far East) carriers claimed the top six rankings. Here’s the top-10 list:

  1. ANA All Nippon Airways
  2. EVA Air
  3. Asiana Airlines
  4. Singapore Airlines
  5. Japan Airlines
  6. Cathay Pacific Airways
  7. Qatar Airways
  8. Swiss International Air Lines
  9. Hainan Airlines
  10. Lufthansa

The list continues:

  1. Korean Air
  2. Cathay Dragon
  3. Austrian Airlines
  4. China Airlines
  5. Thai Airways
  6. Garuda Indonesia
  7. China Southern Airlines
  8. Bangkok Airways
  9. Emirates
  10. Air New Zealand
  11. Etihad Airways
  12. Qantas Airways
  13. Hong Kong Airlines
  14. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
  15. Finnair
  16. Oman Air
  17. Virgin Australia
  18. Air France
  19. Turkish Airlines
  20. Philippine Airlines

Notice that no American or British carriers made the top-30 cut…

When I flew China Southern I would have never guessed it would make the top-20 list, but other than that I don’t see any glaring errors on the list based upon my personal experience flying almost every single one of the airlines.

(In fact, I’ve flown 28/30 carriers listed above. Can you name the two I have not?)

Do you think the list is fair? What do you consider the world’s cleanest airline? I would move JAL to #1, but everything else is fine.

Previous Article “Belligerent” Alaska Airlines Passenger Caught Smoking, Reacts Oddly
Next Article U.S. Secretary Of State Looking “Very Closely” At Qatar-Air Italy Deal

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Delta American Seattle

    Flying Into Coronavirus Zones, For Fun

    March 8, 2020
  • United Airlines Hong Kong Impairment

    This Trip Demonstrates Benefit of New United Airlines Mileage Plus Program

    January 19, 2020
  • First Class Steak: ANA Vs. JAL

    December 7, 2019

17 Comments

  1. aj montana Reply
    April 11, 2019 at 8:12 pm

    Oman and Cathay Dragon???

  2. Tom Reply
    April 11, 2019 at 8:21 pm

    The two are…Hainan and Philippine? Pure guessing here. Hainan and Oman would have been me second guess.

  3. Charles Reply
    April 11, 2019 at 8:48 pm

    Southwest would definitely make the list for one of the dirtiest airlines.

  4. ktc Reply
    April 11, 2019 at 9:19 pm

    China Airlines, Philippine Airlines

    being a Taiwanese I am very proud of EVA & China Airlines being ranked so high. As to the big 3 of US, I know AA & UA run like a football stadium after a Sunday game.

    • colleen Reply
      April 11, 2019 at 10:07 pm

      This is so perfect. I just flew UA Polaris IAH-SYD and my comment was that the lavs looked like those of a rock concert in a hockey arena.

  5. Dfos Reply
    April 11, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    Where has American pride gone? Where is the outrage by upper management in any American carrier? The most powerful country in the world and our airlines are pathetic

  6. Gene Reply
    April 11, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    @ Matthew — I can’t believe American isn’t #1.

  7. Howard Reply
    April 11, 2019 at 10:46 pm

    Ah, cleanliness. The one Skytrax award that nobody bothers to pay them off for.

  8. James Reply
    April 12, 2019 at 1:00 am

    Phillipine and cathay dragon?

    Anyway…. Its surprising to see chinese airlines on the list. Then again, since it was according to passengers, maybe chinese people considered chinese airlines as clean. Put japanese as passenger… Well…

  9. Kacee Reply
    April 12, 2019 at 3:01 am

    Note that the top four, and six of top ten, are *A.

    And I agree with NH as #1.

  10. Justin Reply
    April 12, 2019 at 9:12 am

    I remember noting that Lufthansa aircraft generally feel clean. I notice that the FAs seem to wear pressed shirts and there’s an orderliness and cleanliness to the cabin. Same with SQ and the Japanese carriers. Purely anecdotal of course. I would like to see a more systematic assessment system and ranking… somehow I doubt Skytrax’s methodology would stand up to much scrutiny.

  11. Joey Reply
    April 12, 2019 at 9:22 am

    For the most part I definitely agree with the airlines in the top 5 or 6 as all my flights on those airlines have been topnotch clean.
    I’m curious though whether the cultural backgrounds of the majority of the pax may make a difference. Japanese culture tend to prioritize cleanliness (look at a concert venue after it ended and compare it to one in the USA.)

    • Justin Reply
      April 12, 2019 at 9:29 am

      In Japan, there’s definitely a cultural norm that you should take care of your own trash and clean up after yourself. In Japanese mall food courts, there are stations with wipes and cleaning sprays and people wipe down their tables on their own after. In Japanese cities you won’t see many (if any) garbage cans on the sidewalks and yet the streets are spotless because its assumed that people will just take their garbage home with them because its their responsibility. Compare that to New York where even in 2019 I see people littering all the time (just look at the tracks of the subway).

    • Debit Reply
      April 12, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      The JAL first class I was on had dust bunnies near the window behind the suite wall hidden from view.

      Let’s not put them on the pedestal.

  12. Steve S Reply
    April 12, 2019 at 2:48 pm

    I’ve never flown EVA and unfortunately all I associate them with is that awful passenger who made the FAs wipe him in the lavatory. :-\

    I think I’m having a hard time separating “comfortable” and “clean”. My recollection of Asiana flights is that the plane felt dirty…but maybe that was becasue of the upholstered seats. I much prefer the cheap leather slim-line American style seats, they automatically feel more clean as long as there are no visible crumbs or spills.

  13. angieK Reply
    April 17, 2019 at 11:27 am

    The airline is only part of the equation; passengers are the other part. The sad reality is, we have a widespread “somebody else’s problem” mindset. Latest of many such observations: on a SEA-CDG flight last week in Delta One, I was in row 3 and was last to use it before takeoff and second to use it again after takeoff. Only 1 other pax (4b) used before me. When I got in, the floor was wet, paper towel in the sink and tissue in the toilet, yellow fluid swishing – the pax did not flush.

    That was not a rare, 1-off. My statement on widespread is based on direct experience and observation of friends, family, colleagues and strangers everywhere and from a couple of million miles of flying (2/3 domestic) over six years in my previous job. This is not limited to airlines, just look at the workplace, city streets, parks, etc… Not at all saying it’s roses elsewhere but in my experience, when somebody litters or makes a mess in the countries of those top listed airlines, they try to hurry away or pick up their mess when they’re called on it. Back home in the US, I’ve seen “hey bud, don’t just throw that on the ground man. The bin’s 10 feet away” turn into a physical altercation. I guess we’ll have to get used to being 3rd world and try to work our way back up.

  14. Pingback: 10 Airlines Keep Their Planes Squeaky Clean - View from the Wing

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 60,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • America The Beautiful May 29, 2023
  • United Airlines CEO Says USA Is The “Greatest Country In The History Of The Planet” May 29, 2023
  • Coat Overhead Bin
    Is It Rude To Place Your Coat In The Aircraft Overhead Bin? May 29, 2023
  • United Club Fly Lounge DEN Review
    Review: United Club Fly Lounge Denver (DEN) May 29, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Punches United Airlines Gate Agent
    Man Repeatedly Punches United Airlines Gate Agent After She Asked Him To Vacate First Class Seat He Poached May 3, 2023
  • Delta Air Lines Seat Recline
    Delta Air Lines Passenger Freaks Out After Passenger Pushed Her Seat When She Reclined May 1, 2023
  • American Airlines Pins Cockpit Door
    American Airlines First Class Passenger So Angry Over Meal Choices He Pins Flight Attendant To Cockpit Door May 11, 2023
  • Cursing Fight United Airlines
    “Don’t You Ever Tell Me To Speak English!” (Fight Breaks Out On My United Airlines Flight) May 17, 2023

Archives

May 2023
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

Privacy Policy

© Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.