Top 12 Cleanest Airports In The World 2024
Traveling through airports can be a tedious and stressful experience. Long lines, crowded terminals, and frequent delays can make even the most seasoned travelers frustrated. However, some airports around the world are addressing these pain points by prioritizing cleanliness, efficiency, and passenger comfort.
In 2024, these airports stand out as the cleanest and most traveler-friendly in the world:
1. Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore)
For the eighth consecutive year, Singapore Changi Airport tops the list as the world’s cleanest airport. Changi Airport maintains its reputation for spotless terminals, efficient operations, and luxurious amenities. The airport has invested heavily in technology and automation to increase efficiency. Self-service kiosks, automated immigration gates, and baggage handling systems help avoid long passenger queues.
The airport’s restroom cleaning staff conduct inspections every 15-20 minutes and immediately attend to any issues. Water fountains, counters, seats, and floors are disinfected frequently. The airport also utilizes service robots to scan restrooms for messes that need cleaning. Sanitation scores are posted outside restrooms so passengers can see recent audit results.
Changi also contains lush indoor gardens, butterfly habitats, a movie theater, and a rooftop pool providing passengers with clean, calming spaces to relax.
2. Tokyo Haneda Airport (Japan)
Tokyo Haneda Airport excels at cleanliness while maintaining its reputation as one of the world’s busiest airports. Haneda’s high level of cleanliness originates from Japanese culture, where order and hygiene are highly valued.
Staff clean all public areas, trains and buses frequently using automated cleaning equipment. Restrooms stay spotless due to continuous monitoring and cleaning by staff. Automated toilet and sink functions also help maintain cleanliness. Signage reminds travelers to wash hands and sanitize frequently.
Haneda also uses air filters to remove dust and odor particles. The airport’s efficient layout and operations keep foot traffic flowing smoothly, avoiding large crowds and messy pile-ups.
3. Hamad International Airport (Qatar)
As Qatar’s main international airport and a hub for Qatar Airways, Hamad International Airport links Doha to major global destinations. The airport’s minimalist interior design using polished marble, wood paneling, and vaulted ceilings creates an airy, clean aesthetic.
Hamad International upholds rigorous cleaning standards using ULTRAGUM technology for continuous sanitation. The airport deploys an army of cleaning staff, including high-visibility cleaners, at all hours. Automated robot cleaners constantly roam terminals to clean floors. Restrooms stay spotless and odor-free, helped by odor extraction systems and touchless faucets and toilets.
The airport also simplifies operations to maintain cleanliness. A lack of moving walkways prevents garbage pile-ups while the linear terminal layout allows efficient, targeted cleaning.
4. Tokyo Narita International Airport (Japan)
Tokyo Narita International Airport matches Haneda Airport for cleanliness and efficiency. Narita’s bathrooms especially stand out – staff constantly monitor and clean restrooms to uphold strict Japanese hygiene standards. Automated toilet/bidet functions, odor elimination systems, and touchless sinks also boost cleanliness.
Narita uses automated escalators and walkways cleaned daily using automated vacuum sweepers. Antiviral escalator handrails sanitize passenger hands while riding. Signage across the airport gently reminds travelers to sanitize and uphold cleanliness.
While Narita suffers occasional crowding as Japan’s largest international airport, the terminal layout and operations generally allow for smooth, cleanly traffic flow.
5. Incheon International Airport (South Korea)
Incheon International Airport in Seoul pioneered the focus on airport cleanliness and the “airport as destination” concept. Since its opening, Incheon developed amenities like gardens, saunas, casinos and cultural performances to entertain travelers.
This amenity focus extends to cleanliness. Incheon scores off the charts for clean restrooms, floors and facilities. Teams clean restrooms hourly using sensor-triggered sanitation sprays after each use. Teams also continuously walk terminals wiping surfaces and checking for garbage. Automated cleaning robots also assist during quieter times.
Incheon’s airport robots and hologram assistants further amplify the airport’s clean, high-tech image. The spacious terminal layout prevents crowds from cluttering stations and walkways as well.
6. Munich Airport (Germany)
Consistently ranking among the world’s cleanest airports, Munich Airport excels at cleanliness while handling over 48 million travelers annually. Munich Airport operates an extensive cleaning program spanning 1.5 million square meters of space. Staff clean continuously rather than performing periodic cleanings.
Restroom cleaners refill supplies and sanitize surfaces every 15 minutes. Other teams clean walkways, tables, screens, windows and other surfaces across the airport. Staff even inspect trash cans regularly to promptly remove waste.
Munich Airport also uses automated vacuum cleaners and floor scrubbing robots to maintain clean floors. Bactericidal coatings on surfaces also inhibit germ growth. Munich’s ultramodern terminal infrastructure further enhances cleanliness levels.
7. Zürich Airport (Switzerland)
Known for efficiency and sustainability, Zürich Airport also leads globally for cleanliness and sanitation. Zürich Airport’s facilities stay spotless thanks to strict cleaning processes and friendly competition between its cleaning staff. Teams compete and reward cleaners who receive the highest guest ratings for cleanliness.
Restroom checks and cleanings happen continuously throughout the day. Automated systems like self-cleaning toilet seats and sensor-activated hand dryers improve cleanliness levels. Modern, well-maintained terminal infrastructure also enhances cleanliness.
While Zürich maintains ultramodern facilities, the airport stays committed to sustainable cleaning. Staff use non-toxic, natural cleaners and energy efficient systems to sanitize the expansive airport.
8. Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport markets itself as a “green airport focused on quality services.” This high service quality includes industry-leading cleanliness. HKIA employs comprehensive cleaning processes given the high volume of international travelers.
The airport utilizes advanced technologies like ultrasonic cleaners emitting high frequency vibrations to dissolve grime on surfaces. Automated cleaning solutions also enable quick cleaning response times. HKIA frequently sanitizes escalator handrails, elevator buttons and other high-touch points. Cleaners continuously monitor and upkeep restrooms.
HKIA also uses indoor plants to absorb air pollutants indoors and minimize odors. Hong Kong International’s sleek, modern terminal design also complements the clean ambience.
9. Auckland Airport (New Zealand)
Consistently ranked among the world’s best airports, Auckland Airport leads Southern Hemisphere airports in cleanliness. As the first carbon neutral airport in New Zealand, sustainability initiatives reinforce the clean, eco-friendly environment.
Auckland Airport teams carefully plan cleaning schedules to minimize environmental impacts. Staff use environmentally certified cleaning products to sanitize terminal areas. The airport’s modern building infrastructure also boosts cleanliness with touchless faucets, hand dryers and toilets.
Auckland Airport’s outdoor spaces like gardens and walking tracks also position the airport as a leader in beautiful, clean spaces. The airport also attracts praise for clean, well-designed bathrooms.
10. London Heathrow Airport (UK)
As one of the world’s busiest airports serving 90 million passengers annually, London Heathrow faces big cleanliness challenges. However, Heathrow leverages technology and cleaning crews to maintain high standards.
Behind the scenes, extensive teams work continuously to keep public areas clean. Staff cleaning restrooms and terminal spaces use cleaning checklists and audits to ensure quality. Heathrow uses robotic equipment like automated floor scrubbers to maintain clean floors.
For travelers, sensor-activated taps and toilets along with odor control innovations keep bathrooms clean. Heathrow also encourages traveler cleanliness by providing hand sanitizer stations throughout terminals.
11. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Malaysia)
Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport ranks among the cleanest airports partly through innovations like “washroom butlers.” These specialized cleaners continuously maintain restroom cleanliness to a 5-star hotel standard. Automated features like self-cleaning toilets and sensor-triggered soap dispensers also help maintain cleanliness.
Other cleanliness initiatives at KLIA include the 63-strong Terminal Cleanliness Index Compliance team. This team conducts 6 checks daily focusing on washrooms, floors, doors, walls and surfaces. KLIA also encourages travelers to uphold cleanliness by providing hand sanitizers and cleaning wipes across terminals.
12. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (Netherlands)
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport rounds out the list ranking among Europe’s cleanest major airports. Schiphol’s terminal design places cleanliness as a high priority with wide-open spaces, high ceilings and natural light. Airport staff also prioritize cleanliness in terminal facilities.
Bathrooms rank among the cleanest globally thanks to constant monitoring and cleaning by staff. Schiphol’s linear terminal layout also encourages cleanliness by separating departing and arriving passengers to avoid congestion and messes.
While Schiphol faces crowding challenges as it expands, the airport leverages technology to maintain clean operations. Check-in kiosks, automated border clearance, and baggage systems increase efficiency and reduce queues where garbage accumulates.
The Importance of Clean Airports
Clean airports aren’t just nice spaces for travelers – they provide public health benefits as well. Viruses and germs spread rapidly in crowded airport environments. Maintaining clean surfaces, hygienic restrooms and sanitized facilities helps inhibit contagion spread.
Research shows respiratory infections get transmitted 14 times faster in airports compared to other crowded spaces. Airport design also impacts contagion rates. Clean, spacious terminals with linear layouts help travelers avoid close contact and contaminated surfaces.
Airports prioritizing cleanliness install more hand sanitizers for travelers, use antimicrobial surfaces, and automate facilities to minimize contamination. These best practices ultimately keep travelers healthier.
The Future of Clean Airports
Looking ahead, technology and design will play a growing role in keeping airports clean without expansive manual labor. More airports will adopt automated cleaning solutions like disinfecting robots already used in Singapore, Munich and Hong Kong. Sensor-driven cleaning systems allowing rapid restroom sanitization between uses will also become widespread.
Architectural design innovations will also promote cleanliness. More airports will use self-cleaning surfaces like nano-coated glass that repels water and dirt. Airports will also adopt smarter layouts and people-moving innovations to eliminate crowding and its cleanliness challenges.
While airports face ever-growing passenger volumes, these technology and design solutions provide promising tools to maintain world-class cleanliness. With health and sustainability concerns mounting, clean airports will only grow in importance in creating an optimal passenger experience.