These Are Passengers' Most Liked—and Loathed—Airports

Key Takeaways

• Minneapolis-Saint Paul is North American passengers' favorite "mega" airport, according to a new satisfaction survey from J.D. Power, while Newark came in last in the category for the third straight year.
• John Wayne in Orange County, Calif., was deemed the best "large" airport, while Indianapolis topped the "medium" rankings. Philadelphia and Cleveland came in last in those respective categories.
• The survey looked at seven factors, including ease of travel, terminal facilities, and food, beverage, and retail options.

Passengers looking for a satisfactory airport experience might want to avoid Newark, Philadelphia, or Cleveland.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul is North American travelers' favorite "mega" airport, according to a new annual survey from J.D. Power, while Newark came in last in the category for the third straight year.

John Wayne in Orange County, Calif., was deemed the best "large" airport, while Indianapolis topped the "medium" rankings. Philadelphia and Cleveland came in last in those respective categories.

Study Polled 26,000 Recent Passengers

The study, conducted from August 2023 through July 2024, gathered insights from more than 26,000 passengers who traveled through at least one U.S. or Canadian airport during the past 30 days, evaluating factors like ease of travel, terminal facilities, and food, beverage, and retail options.

The survey also found that an airport's being perceived as crowded was one of the biggest drags on its overall satisfaction score. Travelers also are spending an average of $3.53 less per person in airports in 2024 than last year.

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