JD Power 2026 Rankings: Minneapolis-Saint Paul Retains Top Spot as Renovation Payoffs Drive Satisfaction

Key points

• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranked first among mega-airports (33+ million passengers) with a score of 684/1,000, following a $242 million terminal renovation completed in December 2025.
• Tampa International Airport ranked first among large airports (10-32.9 million passengers), praised for its 'passenger-focused' reliability and upcoming international terminal expansion.
• Charleston International Airport in South Carolina ranked first among medium airports (4.5-9.9 million passengers), overtaking Indianapolis International Airport, which dropped to third place after holding the top spot for four years.
• The overall segment average score was 617/1,000, with mega-airport satisfaction increasing by 14 points year-over-year despite record passenger volumes.
• JD Power found that travelers who rated their airport experience as 'perfect' spent an average of $20.22 more than those who rated it as 'just OK', linking satisfaction to economic activity.

Background

This 2026 ranking follows a decade of significant capital improvement projects across US airports, aimed at streamlining passenger flow and enhancing amenities. Previous coverage noted ongoing challenges with passenger behavior, such as the August 2026 disturbance at Miami International Airport, but the current data suggests that infrastructure upgrades are successfully mitigating satisfaction declines despite high traffic volumes. Indianapolis International Airport’s drop in ranking may be linked to construction impacts from its new $205 million hotel project, which is expected to open in late 2027.

How outlets are covering it

Business Insider emphasizes the correlation between recent renovations and rising satisfaction scores, noting that Minneapolis-Saint Paul’s top ranking follows a major terminal refresh. Tampa Bay Times highlights Tampa International’s success in the large-airport category, attributing it to traveler-friendly features like diverse food options and easy access. IndyStar focuses on the decline of Indianapolis International Airport from the top medium-airport spot to third, suggesting that construction for a new hotel may have impacted the experience, though airport officials argue their 'Hoosier hospitality' and ongoing improvements will restore their lead. All sources agree that capital investment is a key driver of satisfaction, but they differ in which specific airports are highlighted as leaders in their respective categories.

Why it matters

The study demonstrates that substantial infrastructure investments, often costing hundreds of millions of dollars, yield measurable improvements in passenger satisfaction and spending. This trend suggests that airports prioritizing modernization and traveler experience are better positioned to retain customers and generate revenue, even as global travel volumes continue to rise. The shift in rankings also indicates that long-standing leaders can be overtaken by airports that successfully execute large-scale renovations, making capital planning a critical factor in competitive positioning.

What to watch

Indianapolis International Airport expects to return to the top of the medium-airport rankings once its new hotel and other amenities are completed by late 2027. Tampa International Airport is planning to add a new international terminal and ticketing lobby. As more airports complete their multi-year capital projects, future JD Power studies may show further increases in satisfaction scores, particularly at mega-airports that have recently undergone significant renovations.