If your ideal travel day consists of a short security line and a gate you can get to without sprinting, you’re not asking for much. Anyone who’s ever set foot in an airport knows that’s rarer than a free upgrade. But there is good news: airports are getting easier to deal with, and a new survey identifies the one travelers like best.
That survey is J.D. Power’s 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which asked nearly 25,000 travelers in the U.S. and Canada about the airports they passed through between July 2025 and July 2026. They scored each airport on a 1,000-point scale, looking at everything from how easy it was to get through the terminal to how helpful the staff was and what they could eat or shop for while they waited to board their flight.
The best airport in the U.S. for 2026
That top spot goes to Tampa International Airport, which earned 715 points, the highest score of any airport in the study. Tampa took first place among large airports (J.D. Power’s term for airports that serve 10 million to 32.9 million passengers a year), moving up from its second-place finish in last year’s study. Last year’s winner, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, didn’t even make this year’s top three. Portland International Airport (708) and Dallas Love Field (698) finished second and third, respectively.
The best mega and medium airports
A huge hub and a smaller regional airport are not apples-to-apples comparisons, which is why J.D. Power ranks airports in three size groups. Here’s how the other two groups stacked up.
Mega airports (33 million or more passengers a year)
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport: 684
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport: 663
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: 642
If those names sound familiar, it’s because the same three airports took the top spots last year, in the same order. But what changed were the scores—all three managed to raise theirs this time around.
Medium airports (4.5 million to 9.9 million passengers a year)
- Charleston International Airport: 712
- Ontario International Airport: 705
- Indianapolis International Airport: 695
The medium group had more changes. Charleston jumped to first place, and last year’s winner, Indianapolis, dropped to third.
Why airport satisfaction is up in 2026
Travelers are happier across the board this year, and the numbers show it. Satisfaction went up in all three groups, rising by 14 points at mega airports, 13 at large airports, and 16 at medium airports, all while passenger numbers remained near record highs. According to Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality, and retail at J.D. Power, travelers can thank a decade of major construction projects, and “those efforts are finally paying off in higher satisfaction scores.”
The study also found that the little design details matter more than you’d think. Clear signs make it easier to find your way, and terminals that feel like part of your city (think local restaurants and shops next to the national chains you already know) are more likely to leave a good impression. Food, beverage, and retail scores rose 8 points across all three groups, too.
A great airport might cost you more
Passing through a top airport comes with one caveat: you might spend more there. Travelers who rated their experience “perfect” spent an average of $47.60 in the terminal, compared with $27.38 for those who called it “just OK.” Only 12 percent of trips reached that “perfect” mark, so your wallet is probably safe for now. But if you have a layover in Tampa coming up, you might want to budget a little extra for the pre-flight snack haul.
