Tampa International Airport ranked highest in passenger satisfaction among large North American airports in the 2026 J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study, as overall traveler satisfaction improved across airport categories.
Tampa International received a score of 715 on J.D. Power’s 1,000-point scale, placing it ahead of Portland International Airport, which scored 708, and Dallas Love Field, which scored 698.
The study found that overall airport satisfaction increased despite passenger volumes remaining near record levels. Satisfaction rose 14 points among mega airports, 13 points among large airports and 16 points among medium airports compared with the previous year.
J.D. Power attributed much of the improvement to major airport construction and modernization projects that have added new terminals, improved passenger flow and expanded dining and retail options.
“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 J.D. Power.
The study found that clear signage and easy-to-follow airport layouts were among the strongest drivers of passenger satisfaction. Travelers also responded positively to terminal designs, restaurants and other features that reflected the character of an airport’s home city.
Food, beverage and retail satisfaction increased eight points across airport categories. J.D. Power said travelers favored a mix of locally based restaurants and businesses along with familiar national brands.
Passenger satisfaction also appeared to affect how much travelers spent inside airports. Passengers who rated their airport experience as “perfect” spent an average of $47.60 in the terminal, compared with $27.38 among passengers who described their experience as “just OK.” Only 12% of airport journeys received a perfect rating.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranked first among mega airports for the third consecutive year with a score of 684. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport ranked second at 663, followed by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 642.
Charleston International Airport led the medium-airport category with a score of 712. Ontario International Airport ranked second with 705, while Indianapolis International Airport placed third at 695.
J.D. Power classifies mega airports as those handling at least 33 million passengers annually. Large airports serve between 10 million and 32.9 million passengers, while medium airports handle between 4.5 million and 9.9 million passengers per year.
The 2026 study was based on 24,710 completed surveys from U.S. and Canadian residents who traveled through at least one airport in either country. The surveys covered departure and arrival experiences and were collected from July 2025 through July 2026.
The study measures satisfaction across seven areas, including ease of travel through the airport, trust in the airport, terminal facilities, airport staff, ground transportation experiences, food and retail offerings, and arrival experiences.
