More travelers are heading into the skies than ever before. On July 7, 2024, the United States experienced its busiest air travel day in history when more than 3 million travelers passed through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints. So, what does that mean for the air travel experience? According to a new study released by J.D. Power this week, despite record passenger numbers and rising prices for everything from airport food to flights, overall air passenger satisfaction is high.
The survey of 26,290 travelers from the United States and Canada conducted from August 2023 through July 2024 found that 60 percent of North American fliers enjoy spending time in an airport. And 59 percent reported that their airport helped to ease the stress of travel. Hard to believe?
Well, for the 2024 study, airports were judged based on several factors (in order of importance): how easy it is to travel through the airport; the level of trust travelers have in the airport; terminal facilities; airport staff; what it’s like departing from the airport; food, beverage, and retail offerings; and what the arrival experience is like.
Minneapolis–St. Paul is the top ranking airport in North America
Based on those key determinants, one airport came out on top: Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP), which received a score of 671 on a 1,000-point scale.
Not only was Minneapolis recognized as the happiest city in the United States this year, but also, as it turns out, the Twin Cities’ international airport excels. A total of 34.7 million passengers traveled through MSP in 2023, and one year later, passenger numbers are trending 8 percent higher. In 2023, Terminal 1 at MSP was completely overhauled in partnership with the terminal’s resident Delta Air Lines—Delta unveiled a beautiful new Sky Club in Terminal 1 last year, among other enhancements. The renovations are part of a larger $242 million airport modernization program (AMP) currently underway that will result in design updates across six of the terminal’s seven concourses (A, B, C, D, F, and G) by the end of next year.
What fliers love and don’t love about North America airports
Passenger numbers are not the only thing that’s on the rise at airports in the United States and Canada. Prices for everything from food and beverages to airport services and amenities have peaked. And one thing the airport satisfaction study found is that air travelers may have reached their limit on what they’re willing to spend.
“We are starting to see a breaking point in consumer spending, with average spend per person in the terminal declining significantly from a year ago,” noted Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality, and retail at J.D. Power, which has been conducting this study for nearly 20 years.
Another point of contention is crowding. According to the report, the average overall satisfaction score for airport terminals plummets to 429 (on a 1,000-point scale) when they are perceived as “severely crowded.” Thankfully, only 5 percent of passengers reported that they experienced severely crowded airport conditions in 2024.
But overall “air travel demand has not slowed down in North America, despite the steadily rising costs of flights, ground travel, hotel rooms and pretty much anything you can buy in an airport,” stated Taylor, adding, “Most travelers are still enjoying the experience.”
The 30 best airports in North America
So, how are airports excelling? The top-performing airports from the J.D. Power ranking all focus on design details, stores, and restaurants that showcase the surrounding region. Overall, 70 percent of passengers believe that their airport provides a genuine sense of place.
Here’s the full list of the best airports in North America, based on the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. In the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, airports were divided into three size categories: mega, large, and medium. Mega airports are defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers annually; large airports handle 10 million to 32.9 million passengers annually; and medium airports handle between 4.5 million and 9.9 million passengers each year.
The best mega airports in North America
- Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (671 points)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (643 points)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (633 points)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (628 points)
- Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport (623 points)
- Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (611 points)
- San Francisco International Airport (611 points)
- Orlando International Airport (596 points)
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (593 points)
- Boston Logan International Airport (591 points)
At the bottom of the J.D. Power list for mega airports are O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
The best large airports in North America
- John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California (687 points)
- Tampa International Airport (685 points)
- Kansas City International Airport (683 points)
- Dallas Love Field (675 points)
- Nashville International Airport (668 points)
- William P. Hobby Airport in Houston (667 points)
- Sacramento International Airport (663 points)
- Portland International Airport (659 points)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (659 points)
- San Jose International Airport in California (655 points)
The lowest-ranked large airports on the J.D. Power list are St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport.
The best medium airports in North America
- Indianapolis International Airport (687 points)
- Jacksonville International Airport (686 points)
- Southwest Florida International Airport (675 points)
- Ontario International Airport (672 points)
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport (670 points)
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (669 points)
- Palm Beach International Airport (669 points)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (668 points)
- John Glenn Colombus International Airport (658 points)
- Bradley International Airport in Connecticut (654 points)
The lowest-ranked medium airports are Hollywood Burbank Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
This story was originally published in September 2018 and was updated on September 18, 2024, to include current information.
