Travelers are expressing greater satisfaction with their airport experiences as long-term investments in terminal amenities and passenger flow management begin to yield results. According to the 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, overall scores have climbed across every category, with mega airports seeing a 14-point increase on a 1,000-point scale, large airports improving by 13 points, and medium-sized hubs rising by 16 points.
Michael Taylor, the managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at JD Power, noted in a September 16 release that nearly every airport, ranging from international hubs to midsized fields, has dedicated the last decade to streamlining operations and diversifying dining options. These structural improvements are now directly impacting how passengers navigate terminals and interact with airport services.
The study, which incorporates feedback from nearly 25,000 U.S. and Canadian residents, evaluated facilities based on seven distinct criteria, including terminal infrastructure, passenger trust, and the overall ease of travel. Taylor emphasized that specific design choices significantly influence how passengers spend both their time and money while waiting for flights.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) secured the top position among mega airports—those serving at least 33 million passengers annually. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) followed in the rankings, while New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) rounded out the top five.
In the category of large airports, defined as facilities serving between 10 million and 32.9 million annual passengers, Tampa International Airport (TPA) claimed the top spot. It was closely followed by Portland International Airport (PDX) in second and Dallas Love Field (DAL) in third. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) completed the top five rankings for large facilities.
Among medium airports, which serve between 4.5 million and 9.9 million passengers each year, Charleston International Airport (CHS) earned the highest score. Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Indianapolis International Airport (IND) took second and third place, respectively. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) claimed the fourth and fifth positions, completing the list of top performers in their size bracket. The report also notes that from streamlined terminals to better dining and amenities, travelers gave top marks to airports that make flying easier. The report also notes that airports in Minnesota, Florida and South Carolina left the best impressions on travelers, according to a new JD Power report. The report also notes that 16 news release. “On the whole, those efforts are finally starting to pay off in the form of higher overall passenger satisfaction scores. The report also notes that the full study is available on JD Power’s website. The report also notes that nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for based in Nashville. The report also notes that you can reach him at ndiller@.com.
