The Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity recently published its 2026 Airline Water Study, and the results might shock you.

Air travel

The study reveals that the quality of drinking water varies significantly by airline, and that many airlines continue to provide passengers with potentially unhealthy water. So, which airlines are the healthiest — and unhealthiest?

The federal government implemented the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) in 2011, and it requires airlines to provide passengers and flight crew with safe drinking water. The 2026 Airline Water Study ranked 10 major and 11 regional airlines based on the quality of water they provided onboard flights during a three-year study period (October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2025).

Southwest Airlines

Each airline was given a “Water Safety Score” based on five weighted criteria, including violations per aircraft, Maximum Contaminant Level violations for E. coli, indicator-positive rates, public notices, and disinfecting and flushing frequency (5.00 = highest rating, 0.00 = lowest rating).

A score of 3.5 or better means the airline has relatively safe, clean water and earns a Grade A or B.

Be considerate!

American Airlines and JetBlue have the worst scores of the major airlines, with 1.75 (D) and 1.80 (D), respectively.

Delta Air Lines and Frontier Airlines scored the highest, with 5.0 (A) and 4.8 (A), respectively.

American Airlines

You can check out the full results of the study below to see how your favorite airline stacks up:

Major Airlines

• Delta Air Lines: 5.00 (Grade A)
• Frontier Airlines: 4.80 (Grade A)
• Alaska Airlines: 3.85 (Grade B)
• Allegiant Air: 3.65 (Grade B)
• Southwest Airlines: 3.30 (Grade C)
• Hawaiian Airlines: 3.15 (Grade C)
• United Airlines: 2.70 (Grade C)
• Spirit Airlines: 2.05 (Grade D)
• JetBlue: 1.80 (Grade D)
• American Airlines: 1.75 (Grade D)

Allegiant at Sanford Airport

Regional Airlines

• GoJet Airlines: 3.85 (Grade B)
• Piedmont Airlines: 3.05 (Grade C)
• Sun Country Airlines: 3.00 (Grade C)
• Endeavor Air: 2.95 (Grade C)
• SkyWest Airlines: 2.40 (Grade D)
• Envoy Air: 2.30 (Grade D)
• PSA Airlines: 2.25 (Grade D)
• Air Wisconsin Airlines: 2.15 (Grade D)
• Republic Airways: 2.05 (Grade D)
• CommuteAir: 1.60 (Grade D)
• Mesa Airlines: 1.35 (Grade F)

Expect delays

Aircraft fly to numerous destinations and may pump drinking water into their tanks from various sources at domestic and international locations. The water quality onboard airplanes also depends on the safety of the equipment used to transfer the water, such as water cabinets, trucks, carts, and hoses.

The Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity recommends the following to be extra safe when flying:

• NEVER drink any water onboard that isn’t in a sealed bottle.
• Do not drink coffee or tea on board.
• Do not wash your hands in the bathroom; use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol instead.

American Airlines Plane

We’ll be on the lookout for even more airline news and updates you need to know about. In the meantime, stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news!

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