Minneapolis-Saint Paul Retains Top Spot in J.D. Power’s 2026 North American Airport Rankings

Key points

• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) ranked first among mega airports with a score of 684 on a 1,000-point scale, outperforming Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (663) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (642).
• Tampa International Airport (TPA) topped the large airport category with a score of 715, followed by Portland International Airport (708) and Dallas Love Field (698).
• Charleston International Airport led the medium airport category with a score of 712, ahead of Ontario International Airport (705) and Indianapolis International Airport (695).
• J.D. Power noted that overall passenger satisfaction increased across all categories, driven by clear signage, easy navigation, and improvements in food, beverage, and retail programs, which rose eight points year-over-year.
• The 2026 study is in its 21st year and categorizes airports by passenger volume: mega (33+ million), large (10-32.9 million), and medium (4.5-9.9 million).

Background

J.D. Power’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study has been conducted annually for 21 years, measuring passenger experiences across seven areas including ease of travel, terminal facilities, and staff interactions. Previous rankings have consistently highlighted the importance of efficient navigation and amenities. In 2025, Minneapolis-Saint Paul also topped the mega category, establishing a trend of consistent high performance for Midwest hubs. The 2026 results reflect the impact of multiyear capital improvement projects at top-ranked airports, which J.D. Power’s Michael Taylor noted are beginning to yield higher satisfaction scores.

How outlets are covering it

J.D. Power’s rankings emphasize efficiency and navigation, with travel expert Gary Leff praising Minneapolis for its amenities and proximity to downtowns, despite long walks between gates. Leff also highlighted Tampa’s organization and Charleston’s lack of overbuilding. In contrast, a separate USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards list, reported by Time Out, ranked Tampa as the best large airport but placed Minneapolis-Saint Paul eighth, with Nashville and Denver in the top three. This discrepancy highlights differing methodologies: J.D. Power focuses on passenger satisfaction and operational efficiency, while USA Today’s list considers destination reach and amenities. Both sources agree on Tampa’s strong performance but differ on the overall ranking of other hubs.

Why it matters

The rankings provide a benchmark for airport performance and passenger satisfaction, influencing traveler choices and airport investment strategies. The emphasis on navigation and amenities reflects growing passenger expectations for efficient and comfortable travel experiences. The success of Midwest and Southern airports suggests that factors beyond prestige, such as organization and accessibility, are critical to high satisfaction scores.

What to watch

Airports ranked lower in the 2026 study may prioritize capital improvements and navigation enhancements to boost satisfaction scores in future rankings. J.D. Power will likely release updated rankings in 2027, reflecting ongoing changes in airport infrastructure and passenger experiences. Travelers may use these rankings to choose airports and routes, favoring those with higher satisfaction scores.