The results of an independent survey ranking the best and worst airports in the US and Canada in 2025 have been released. The analysis by J.D. Power was based on 30,439 responses from U.S. or Canadian residents who used at least one US or Canadian airport between July 2024 and July 2025 and covered seven factors: ease of travel through the airport, level of trust with the airport, terminal facilities, airport staff, departure/to airport experience, food, beverage and retail, and arrival/from airport experience.
High scoring airports hold their positions
The results, which are categorised by airport size, suggest that airports of all sizes that score highly know how to hold on to that position.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranks highest in passenger satisfaction among “mega” airports for a second consecutive year, beating Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport into second place. Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport ranks third.
Likewise, among “large” airports, John Wayne Airport, Orange Countyranks highest among large airports also for a second consecutive year. Tampa International Airport places second, and Dallas Love Field third.
In addition, Indianapolis International Airport came first among medium airports for a fourth consecutive year. Ontario International Airport is second, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport is third in this category.
Waits are worse at mega airports
Although mega airports managed to boost satisfaction rates by an average of 8 points, they fell behind medium and large airports, where satisfaction grew more. This may be down to transit times for mega airports being longer, and crowding being worse at mega facilities. Among mega airport passengers, 23% spent 21 minutes or more getting through security, and 57% describe the airport as “moderately crowded.” For many mega facilities, experienced as “mazes for rats,” expansion is difficult as they are victims of landlocked geography, the report notes.
By comparison, 56% of passengers travelling through medium airports and 50% of those at large airports spent 10 minutes or less getting through security. These passengers were also more likely to characterise the airport as “mildly crowded” or “not at all crowded,” the survey found.
The better the airport, the more they spend
Passengers who rate their airport experience as “perfect” spend an average of $42.39 in the terminal, J.D. Power notes, pointing out that it is $16.54 more than passengers who rate their airport experience as “just OK.” Perfect experiences are rare, however, occurring in just 11% of journeys through the airport.
How to improve?
As well as those with shorter waits and transit times, the survey found that airports where food, beverage and retail have been prioritised did better. “One of the bigger drivers of this year’s increase in passenger satisfaction is food, beverage and retail programs,” Power said, adding that all airport segments were rated 14 points higher year-on-year on this criteria, and noting that “airport efforts to incorporate authentic local food and beverage brands into their terminal offerings have helped to fuel that increase.”
In addition, the findings show that infrastructure improvements are driving up customer satisfaction rates, despite “widespread flight delays,” airports that are busier than ever, and increased prices. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey is an interesting case in point here, ranking lowest among mega airports for the fourth year in a row. Its new dining options did not save it from poor judgments of its access and road traffic.
Reactions
Overall, the findings are being hailed as good news for a North American aviation sector that has recently been beleaguered by accidents, safety problems, outages and weather issues that have resulted in nightmarish delays and cancellations.
Forbes notes that after years of lagging satisfaction, “the trend is shifting. With billions of dollars in projects finally wrapping up, airports are seeing measurable gains in satisfaction, and passengers are rewarding those improvements.”
