These Are the Airlines With the Cleanest (and Dirtiest) In-flight Water, According to a New Report

"Turns out, the water served on several major commercial airlines in the United States falls short of the quality standards set under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, which was introduced in 2011 to protect passengers and crew. That's according to a study by the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity, which reviewed data from 10 major airlines and 11 regional airlines over a three year period, examining aircraft violations, violations for E. coli, disinfecting and flushing frequency, and more."

"Among major carriers, American Airlines had the worst water quality, according to the report. That was followed by JetBlue and Spirit Airlines. On the other end of the spectrum was Delta Air Lines, which came in as having the safest and most reliable water on board of major carriers. Delta was followed by Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines rounding out the top three."

"When it came to regional airlines, St. Louis-based GoJet Airlines was the highest-rated carrier. The airline operates flights for United Airlines under United Express aboard a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-550 aircraft. Fellow United Express partner Mesa Airlines, which recently merged with Republic Airways, came in as the worst offender for water quality on regional carriers. Charles Platkin, the director of the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity, said in a statement "nearly all regional airlines need to improve their onboard water safety.""

Water served on several major U.S. commercial airlines fails to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's Aircraft Drinking Water Rule standards established in 2011 to protect passengers and crew. Data from 10 major airlines and 11 regional carriers across three years reveal aircraft violations, E. coli detections, and inconsistent disinfecting and flushing practices. Among major carriers, American Airlines ranked worst, followed by JetBlue and Spirit; Delta ranked safest, followed by Frontier and Alaska. Among regional carriers, GoJet ranked highest while Mesa ranked worst. Recommended precautions include drinking sealed bottled water, avoiding beverages made from onboard taps, and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of bathroom sinks.

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