A clean cabin can make a noticeable difference to the flying experience, especially on longer journeys. From spotless seats and tray tables to well-maintained washrooms, passengers often notice these details even before the aircraft takes off. At the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, IndiGo has received recognition for exactly that aspect of air travel.
IndiGo has been named the ‘Cleanest Airline in India & South Asia’ at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards. The recognition adds another award to the Indian airline’s growing list of regional honours and comes as the carrier marks 20 years of its journey.
IndiGo Named Cleanest Airline In India And South Asia
The 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards recognised IndiGo as the ‘Cleanest Airline in India & South Asia’. The award places the Indian carrier among the airlines recognised for maintaining high standards of cleanliness across their passenger experience. Globally, however, the top spot in the cleanliness ranking went to Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines. Singapore Airlines secured the second position, while ANA All Nippon Airways was ranked third.
Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways completed the global top five. The remaining airlines in the top 10 were EVA Air, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, China Airlines and Korean Air. The wider ranking also featured Malaysia Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Hong Kong Airlines, Qantas Airways and Emirates among the world’s recognised airlines for cleanliness.
IndiGo Wins More Awards At Skytrax 2026
Cleanliness was not the only category where IndiGo received recognition this year. The airline also won the ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in India & South Asia’ and ‘Best Cabin Crew in India & South Asia’ awards at the 2026 World Airline Awards. IndiGo has also been recognised as a leading low-cost airline across different regional definitions, including India, Central Asia and South Asia. According to the information shared for the awards, the airline has received the low-cost airline recognition for the 16th time in its 20-year history.
The awards highlight different aspects of the passenger experience, from cabin cleanliness and crew service to the airline’s positioning as a low-cost carrier. For IndiGo, the latest recognition also comes as it continues to focus on its core proposition of accessible and affordable air travel, alongside on-time and hassle-free journeys.
World’s Cleanest Airlines 2026
| Rank | Airline |
|---|---|
| 1 | STARLUX Airlines |
| 2 | Singapore Airlines |
| 3 | ANA All Nippon Airways |
| 4 | Hainan Airlines |
| 5 | Cathay Pacific Airways |
| 6 | EVA Air |
| 7 | Qatar Airways |
| 8 | Japan Airlines |
| 9 | China Airlines |
| 10 | Korean Air |
| 11 | Malaysia Airlines |
| 12 | China Southern Airlines |
| 13 | Swiss International Air Lines |
| 14 | Hong Kong Airlines |
| 15 | Qantas Airways |
| 16 | Emirates |
Willie Walsh On IndiGo’s Latest Recognition
Speaking after receiving the award, Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “Being recognised as the Best Low-Cost Airline for the 16th time by Skytrax, in IndiGo’s journey of 20 years so far, reflects our relentless focus on operational excellence and hassle-free experiences.
“It is also a testament to the enduring trust and confidence our customers have consistently placed in us over the last two decades and we thank them for their continued patronage and support.”
He further credited the airline’s employees for the recognition. “This recognition belongs to our committed workforce, whose unwavering dedication, passion, and professionalism bring our brand promise to life every day and make achievements like these possible. We are grateful to Skytrax for recognizing our efforts and inspiring us to continue our pursuit of excellence,” he added.
The comments underline the importance IndiGo places on its employees while marking the airline’s two-decade journey.
How Skytrax Decides The World Airline Awards
The Skytrax World Airline Awards are based on the organisation’s annual global passenger satisfaction survey. For the 2026 awards, the survey was conducted between September 2025 and August 2026. The survey covered more than 300 airlines from around the world. It also included responses from 24.8 million passengers representing more than 100 nationalities.
This means the awards are based on passenger feedback collected across a large international sample rather than being determined solely by an industry panel. For IndiGo, the recognition for cleanliness comes alongside its awards for low-cost airline and cabin crew in India and South Asia.
A Recognition Across Multiple Passenger Categories
The three awards give IndiGo recognition across different parts of the flying experience. The cleanliness award focuses on the condition and presentation of the airline’s cabins, while the cabin crew award relates to the service provided by its onboard staff. The low-cost airline award, meanwhile, recognises IndiGo within its category and regional markets.
As the airline completes 20 years, these recognitions provide another milestone in its journey. The 2026 Skytrax awards have also placed the spotlight on several Asian carriers, with airlines from the region dominating the global cleanliness rankings. For Indian travellers, IndiGo’s ‘Cleanest Airline in India & South Asia’ recognition adds another award to the airline’s record at the World Airline Awards. With passenger feedback forming the basis of the Skytrax rankings, the result reflects how travellers rated the airline during the survey period.
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