Airlines cleaning up their aerial act

CHICAGO, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- United Airlines and American Airlines are two U.S. air transport groups providing cleaner airplanes for passengers, officials say.

Airline officials said in response to numerous passenger complaints about dirty planes, efforts have been undertaken to clean up, the Chicago Tribune said Thursday.

American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said his airline's cleaning efforts that began last year have prompted a 40 percent drop in dirty airplane complaints.

Paul Sanders, cabin appearance general manager for United, told the Tribune the new cleaning efforts are based on United standards rather than individual airport standards.

"We want to make sure we use each cleaning agent in the right place, use the right wipes in the right place," he told the newspaper. "The last thing we want is for someone to wipe the (lavatories), then use the same wipe on tray tables."