A recent ranking of the world’s cleanest airports reveals that Asia dominates the list, with only one European airport making the top 10. The research was conducted by Skytrax as part of its World Airport Awards, focusing on factors such as the cleanliness of seating and toilet facilities. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport claimed the top spot, commended for its cleanliness following the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan boasts four of the top 10 cleanest airports, with Centrair Nagoya, Tokyo Narita, and Kansai also making the list. Other Asian airports on the list include Seoul Incheon, Singapore Changi, Doha Hamad, Hong Kong, and Taiwan Taoyuan, with Zurich in Switzerland being the only non-Asian airport on the list.
Skytrax’s awards also highlight the cleanest airports in each region, with Zurich being named the cleanest in Europe, Tokyo Haneda in Asia, and Doha Hamad in the Middle East. In North America, Vancouver in Canada was named the cleanest airport, while South America’s title went to Quito in Ecuador. Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría was recognized as the cleanest in Central America and the Caribbean, Cape Town in Africa, Brisbane in Australia/Pacific, and Shanghai Hongqiao in China. Central Asia’s cleanest airport was Azerbaijan’s Baku, and Bangalore was chosen for India and South Asia. These awards are based on customer satisfaction surveys conducted at over 570 airports worldwide and are set to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2024.
Despite a push for sustainable travel, flying remains popular, with over 8.5 billion passengers flying annually. A clean airport can significantly enhance the travel experience, making it more comfortable and less stressful for passengers. As airports continue to prioritize cleanliness, especially in the current global health crisis, the recognition of the world’s cleanest airports highlights the importance of maintaining high standards in hygiene and sanitation. Asia’s dominance in the rankings showcases the region’s commitment to providing a clean and safe environment for travelers, setting a standard for airports worldwide to follow.
