World's cleanest airlines 2019: Japan's All Nippon Airways wins top prize

Asian carriers come out on top

(Getty Images)

ANA All Nippon Airways is the cleanest airline in the world, according to a new survey.

Japan’s leading carrier came top in the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2018, which were based on passenger ratings.

Travellers were asked to score airlines on the cleanliness of the seating areas, tables, carpets, cabin panels and toilets.

Asian carriers dominated the top five, with ANA followed by EVA Air, a Taiwanese international airline; Asiana Airlines, a South Korean carrier; Singapore Airlines; and Japan Airlines.

Not a single British airline made the top 30 this year.

Swiss was the highest rated European airline for cleanliness, coming in at eighth place, while Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines were awarded 10th and 13th place respectively.

The US fared poorly in this year’s awards, with no American airlines included in the 30 cleanest carriers.

The awards also further divided airlines by geographical location, listing the cleanest airlines in Africa, Australia/Pacific, China, Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East.

South African Airways nabbed the top spot in Africa; Air New Zealand was number one in Australia/Pacific; Hainan was rated cleanest in China; Air Canada in North America; Azul Airlines in South America; and Qatar Airways in the Middle East.

World’s 30 cleanest airlines

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
11. Korean Air
12. Cathay Dragon
13. Austrian Airlines
14. China Airlines
15. Thai Airways
16. Garuda Indonesia
17. China Southern Airlines
18. Bangkok Airways
19. Emirates
20. Air New Zealand
21. Etihad Airways
22. Qantas Airways
23. Hong Kong Airlines
24. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
25. Finnair
26. Oman Air
27. Virgin Australia
28. Air France
29. Turkish Airlines
30. Philippine Airlines