The 20 biggest US airports ranked from worst to best for passenger satisfaction

There are ample airports, and past location are "mega airports."

The yearly JD Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study measured wide rider restitution astatine US airports crossed 3 size categories: mean (4.5 to 9.9 cardinal passengers a year), ample (10 to 32.9 cardinal passengers a year), and mega (33 cardinal aliases much passengers a year).

The 2026 study was based connected 24,710 surveys of US and Canadian residents who traveled done astatine slightest 1 eligible North American airport successful the 30 days earlier completing the survey. The conception mean was 617 connected a 1,000-point scale.

While Canadian residents were surveyed for the 2026 study, Canadian airports, including Toronto Pearson, were not included successful this year's rankings because the institution changed its sampling methodology successful Canada, a JD Power spokesperson told Business Insider.

For the ranking, passengers were asked to measure their experiences crossed 7 halfway factors, successful bid of importance:

1. Ease of recreation done the airport
2. Level of spot successful the airport
3. Terminal facilities
4. Airport staff
5. Departure/to airdrome experience
6. Food, beverage, and retail
7. Arrival/from airdrome experience

One takeaway from the 2026 study: airdrome renovations salary off.

The highest-ranked airports successful 2026 person either precocious completed aliases are almost vanished pinch capital betterment projects. Though these makeovers tin costs upward of $1 cardinal and span aggregate years, the results speak for themselves — JD Power recovered wide rider restitution astatine mega airports accrued 14 points, moreover arsenic rider measurement remains astatine grounds levels.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which classed first for the 3rd twelvemonth successful a statement successful 2026, precocious underwent a $242 cardinal terminal renewal successful December 2025, refreshing gross areas, seating, flooring, lighting, signs, and different post-security spaces.

More satisfied passengers besides walk much money, JD Power found. Travelers who rated their airdrome acquisition "perfect" spent an mean of $20.22 much than those who rated their airdrome trips "just OK." JD Power besides recovered that high-scoring airports person a bully equilibrium of concatenation and section restaurants and shops, arsenic good arsenic clear signage.

"For the amended portion of the past decade, astir each airport, from the largest world hubs to midsized airfields, has undertaken a important capital betterment project aimed astatine streamlining rider flow, adding charismatic nutrient and beverage options, and improving wide rider experience," Michael Taylor, managing head of travel, hospitality, and unit astatine JD Power, said successful a property release. "On the whole, those efforts are yet starting to salary disconnected successful the shape of higher wide rider restitution scores."

Here are the champion airports successful North America, classed by passengers.