Travelmath reveals extent of bacteria found on passenger aircraft

The investigation recorded that airports and airplanes are far dirtier than the average home, with the tray table recording 2,155 bacteria colonies forming in each square inch (CFU/ sq. in.).

 

With the tray table being the most unhygienic location on an aircraft and in airports, it was followed by the buttons on drinking fountains at 1,240 CFU/ sq. in., overhead air vents at 285 CFU/ sq. in, lavatory flush buttons at 265 CFU/ sq. in., seatbelt buckles at 230 CFU/ sq. in. and finally bathroom stall locks at 70 CFU/ sq. in..

 

Bathrooms proved to be the most hygienic of the samples collected, but still showed traced of fecal coliforms such as E. Coli.

 

Travelmath suggests that the lack of hygiene could be down to the pressure of quickly deboarding and boarding passengers put upon airline staff. This would put the cleaning of tray tables for example as less of a priority.

 

They also suggest the need for cleaning procedures to be put in place to reduce the number of dangerous bacteria on aircraft and in airports.

 

For more information on the investigation, please see http://www.travelmath.com/feature/airline-hygiene-exposed/.