Are aircraft cabins clean?

Michael Gebicki is correct in saying it’s only a quick tidy-up when there’s a short turnaround. The best cleaning is done during the longer layovers in the airlines’ respective hubs. So yes, do take your sanitiser wipes with you into the cabin. You’ll need them sooner or later for the trays, armrests, lavatory door handles, etc.

As for the air breathed. I wouldn’t worry too much. There’s no more germs in the air than what you’ll find in any other crowded space. The pilots also breathe the same air as the passengers so it can’t be all that bad! What is noticeable though is the dryness of the air. This cannot be avoided as condensation from humidity can corrode the airframe. Newer planes such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 use composite materials so are less prone to corrosion and the humidity and air quality is much better.

Comments relate to the article How clean is my aircraft cabin? Published in Traveller.com.au

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