Despite boasting a significant network of major airports, from London Heathrow to Manchester, which connect the United Kingdom to long-haul destinations and handle millions of passengers annually, none have secured a place on the prestigious Airports Council International list of the cleanest airports globally.
Global Recognition for Airport Cleanliness
The 2025 ASQ Customer Experience Awards, which highlight excellence in customer experience across the aviation industry, recently unveiled its rankings for the cleanest airport category. This list features thirty of the world's top hubs, spanning regions including Africa, Latin America-Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, North America, and Europe.
European Leaders in Cleanliness
In Europe, Girona-Costa Brava Airport in Costa Brava, Spain, emerged as a standout, recognised as one of the top airports for cleanliness. This popular hub for holidaymakers seeking sunny getaways welcomed 2.2 million passengers last year, with 87 percent of travel being for leisure purposes.
Other European airports making the cut include Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport in Turkey, which also impressed in categories such as most enjoyable airport and easiest airport journey. Malta International Airport in Luqa, Malta, and Pamplona Airport in Spain further demonstrated high standards. Italy contributed two entries: Rome Fiumicino Airport and Torino Airport, both praised for their cleanliness.
International Highlights and US Excellence
Beyond Europe, Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport in Georgia earned a spot on the list. In the United States, several hubs were acknowledged for their cleanliness, including Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which operates over 100 flights daily.
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, based in Greer, South Carolina, not only made the cleanliness list but was also recognised as one of the best small airports in North America, alongside awards for most dedicated staff and most enjoyable hub. Salt Lake City International Airport rounded out the American representation.
UK's Limited Recognition
Despite its extensive range of airports and high passenger volumes, the United Kingdom received only a mention in the category for best airports at departures, by size and region, specifically for hubs handling five to fifteen million passengers per year. Belfast International Airport and Newcastle International Airport were the sole UK entries in this segment.
The Airports Council International awards also encompassed other categories, such as most enjoyable airport, easiest airport journey, most dedicated staff, and best airports at arrivals and departures globally, by size and region. This underscores the competitive landscape where UK airports, despite their scale, have yet to achieve top-tier cleanliness accolades compared to their international peers.
