JD Power Finds Airport Satisfaction Up

Air travel woes may persist, but airport satisfaction is up. The JD Power 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which came out last month, found airport satisfaction increased “significantly” year over year in North America. The study credits this increase to airport investments and the completion or near-completion of major construction/improvement projects.

“For the better part of the last decade, nearly every airport, from the largest international hubs to mid-sized airfields, has undertaken a significant capital improvement project aimed at streamlining passenger flow, adding attractive food and beverage options and improving overall passenger experience,” explained Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail, JD Power. “On the whole, those efforts are finally starting to pay off in the form of higher overall passenger satisfaction scores. However, when it comes to the individual experiences of passengers, every detail counts and the specific design and structural decisions airports make can have a significant influence on how passengers spend their time — and their money — in the terminal.”

When looking at individual airports, the study found, among mega airports, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranked highest for passenger satisfaction. In large airports, Tampa International Airport ranked highest. In medium airports, Charleston International Airport took the top spot.