Study Shows Water on Airplanes May Be Low-Quality

Researchers Just Ranked Airlines by Water Quality—Only One Got an A

Researchers dug through the data—and recommended you bring some hand sanitizer on board.Reviewed by Dietitian Madeline Peck, RDN, CDNGetty Images. EatingWell Design.Key PointsAmerican and Mesa Airlines ranked at the bottom for aircraft water safety.The study team advises skipping coffee and tea made with onboard tap water.Using hand sanitizer may be safer than washing with airplane sink water.A major new analysis of onboard airline water quality…

Study shows water on airplanes may be low-quality

You might be thinking twice about what drink you order on your next flight. A new study shows water aboard major U.S. airlines may not be the best quality.

Airplane Water Quality Remains Unsafe Across Multiple Carriers: Report

Researchers warn that aircrafts often carry stagnant water in their storage tanks, pulled from regional supplies whose quality can vary greatly. A new water quality study found that many major and regional airlines serve drinking water contaminated with bacteria during domestic and international flights. According to research published by the Center for Food …

Airline water quality study shows wide variation in drinking water safety aboard flights

A comprehensive 2026 study by the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity analyzed over 35,000 onboard water samples, revealing significant differences in water safety across U.S. airlines.

U.S. Airlines Serve Unsafe Water, Study Says — This One Scores Worst

This week in travel: airline water quality under scrutiny, a fatal shark attack in the U.S. Virgin Islands, tourists stranded in Finland’s deep freeze, and more travel headlines.