In an era where cleanliness has become paramount for travelers, four American airports are setting the gold standard for hygiene and maintenance, earning recognition from the world’s most prestigious aviation organizations. From intimate regional hubs to bustling international gateways, these airports prove that exceptional cleanliness is achievable regardless of size or passenger volume.
The Elite Three: ACI’s North American Champions
Thanks to the Airports Council International (ACI) and the Airport Experience Awards, you can mark three American airports down as the most spotless in the country. Based on almost 700,000 surveys filled out by travelers around the world, these three airports shone, both literally and figuratively.
Grand Rapids’ Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), South Carolina’s Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), and the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) are the cleanest airports not only in America, but the whole of North America.
1. Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Leading the pack is Grand Rapids’ Gerald R. Ford International Airport, a testament to how smaller airports can excel through dedicated attention to detail. The airport, which underwent a renovation in 2009 to improve the terminal and parking, is now in the midst of an enormous revamp. The more than $600 million project will include a major overhaul of the parking, as well as the addition of new gates and vendors to better serve passengers.
With over 3,000 employees between airlines and vendors, the airport runs like a well-oiled machine, which is why it was not only one of America’s cleanest airports, but it was also singled out as having one of the most dedicated staffs.
The proof is in the passenger reviews. One look at the airport’s reviews on Google and it’s clear why GRR is winning awards. Whether commenting on how well the facilities are maintained or noting the clean bathrooms, travelers are consistently happy with how this small airport treats its customers. In fact, it left such an impression that one passenger was moved to rave about her experience on Google: “Never left an airport review before but wow. Definitely one of the nicest and cleanest airports I’ve visited”.
2. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) – South Carolina
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Consistency defines South Carolina’s Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. Serving around 2.8 million passengers annually, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) has made the cleanest airport list for three straight years.
Located just 13 miles east of picturesque Greenville, the airport is always looking to improve the customer experience and just completed a $97 million project to upgrade one of its parking and car rental facilities.
What sets GSP apart is its thoughtful design and passenger-friendly approach. Travelers often marvel at the cleanliness of this international airport and mention how easy it is to navigate since it just has one terminal with 13 gates. The architecture also elevates the experience, with a light and airy atmosphere that puts travelers at ease. And to top it off, there’s even a small garden where you can relax outside and await your flight.
With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that GSP was also placed on the ACI list as one of the Easiest Airport Journeys in North America.
3. Indianapolis International Airport (IND) – Indiana
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The newest addition to the elite cleanest airports list proves that size doesn’t have to compromise cleanliness. Indianapolis International Airport is not only the newest entry, but also the largest, with 10.5 million passengers passing through in 2024. In some ways, this makes IND’s inclusion all the more impressive, as maintaining facilities with such high traffic levels is not easy.
However, IND appears to excel on all fronts and has made ACI’s selection as the best midsize airport for 13 years in a row, as well as the airport with the best customer service in North America.
Innovation drives Indianapolis’s success in maintaining cleanliness standards. What makes IND so exceptional? Certainly, attention to maintenance and efforts to make customers’ lives easier are key. For instance, in 2023, the airport installed 50 self-sanitizing changing tables to give families a safer, more hygienic environment for diaper changes.
4. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) – Houston, Texas
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Houston’s Hobby Airport represents the fourth cleanest airport in America according to Skytrax’s global rankings, earning a different but equally prestigious recognition. That makes William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston being ranked ninth among the world’s cleanest airports in the Up to 25 Million Passengers category by Skytrax in its 2025 World Airport Awards a noteworthy achievement. Houston Hobby was the only U.S. airport to appear in that category in Skytrax’s “World’s Cleanest Airports 2025” list.
It handled just over 14.6 million passengers in 2024, according to Houston Airports, which averages to more than 40,000 passengers every day.
Despite this level of foot traffic, HOU retained its five-star Skytrax rating for the fourth consecutive year.
The Cleanliness Standards That Matter
The evaluation criteria for these rankings reflect what passengers truly care about. In order to be singled out, they had to land in the top 5% in North America on the section of the survey related to cleanliness.
For Hobby Airport specifically, “Hobby Airport delivers an excellent customer experience across frontline areas and customers will find upgraded interior décor finishes, new play areas for children, and enhanced nursery facilities for families,” states an official quote from the air transport rating organization.
When it comes to the terminal, Skytrax has given the airport four out of a possible five stars for the cleanliness of its seats, washrooms, and public areas. It has also given Houston Hobby a perfect five-star rating for its baby changing rooms and seat availability.
Why Size Doesn’t Determine Cleanliness
Interestingly, the success of these airports challenges conventional wisdom about airport management. While these airports may not be the biggest in terms of passenger traffic, this may work to their advantage, as it allows staff to more easily keep everything spick and span.
However, Indianapolis International proves that larger airports can maintain exceptional standards with the right approach and investment.
The Economic Impact of Cleanliness
The importance of airport cleanliness extends beyond passenger comfort to economic impact. A 2023 J.D. Power study found that passengers who rated their experience as “delighted” spent an average of $44 in the terminal, a marked increase from the $29 spent by those who rated it “disappointed”.
Airport cleanliness is now as important as facilities and ease of transfer. A clean airport can help travelers feel more comfortable and less anxious before flying. This is particularly true for airport restrooms, which can leave a lasting impression.
Looking Forward
Without a doubt, the world’s cleanest airport has raised expectations for travelers and now many other major international and national aviation hubs are following suit.
As travelers increasingly prioritize cleanliness in their airport selection criteria, these four American airports demonstrate that exceptional hygiene standards are achievable through dedicated investment, innovative technology, and unwavering attention to passenger needs. Whether you’re flying through the intimate terminals of Gerald R. Ford International or the bustling corridors of Indianapolis International, these airports prove that spotless standards and exceptional service can coexist, setting the benchmark for the future of American aviation infrastructure.