Airports in general don’t have the best reputation for being places where travelers in the United States want to spend much time.
But that outlook is now changing, according to a new survey.
Sweeping improvement projects at dozens of airports across the country have significantly improved passengers’ opinions of a multitude of terminals, according to JD Power’s just-published North American Airport Satisfaction Study.
Airport upgrades like gleaming new buildings, outposts of favorite local restaurants and shops, and expanded footprints to handle growing passenger numbers are leading to more positive airport experiences.
“For the better part of the last decade, nearly every airport, from the largest international hubs to midsized airfields, has undertaken a significant capital improvement project aimed at streamlining passenger flow, adding attractive food and beverage options and improving overall passenger experience,” said Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at JD Power.
While some of the most high-profile improvement projects are still currently under construction—like the multi-billion dollar overhauls at New York JFK, Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD)—other renovation plans have begun to reach fruition. And fliers are taking note.
“On the whole, those efforts are finally starting to pay off in the form of higher overall passenger satisfaction scores,” Taylor said.
So far, 2026 has seen higher annual numbers of fliers, but passenger satisfaction has improved 14 points (on a 1,000-point scale) for mega airports, 13 points for large airports, and 16 points for medium airports.
To tabulate the scores, JD Power surveyed more than 24,000 U.S. and Canadian travelers who transited through at least one airport in the last 30 days from July 2025 to July 2026.
All of the study’s top-ranked airports have recently completed in-depth capital improvement projects.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) had the highest passenger satisfaction score of 684 out of 1,000 in the survey’s mega airport category for the third year in a row.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) took second place with 663 points, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) rounded out the top three mega hubs with a score of 642 points. Closely trailing in fourth place is New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), which is home to two completely rebuilt terminals.
In the large airports category, Tampa International Airport (TPA) scooped up the top spot, with a passenger satisfaction score of 715 points. Portland International Airport (PDX) took second place in the category with 708 points, followed by Dallas Love Field (DAL), which garnered 698 points.
Travelers voted South Carolina’s Charleston International Airport (CHS) as the best medium-sized airport in the U.S., with an overall score of 712 points.
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