These Are North America’s Best Airports, According to a New Study

With long TSA lines, crowded concourses, expensive food, and frequent flight delays, you might assume that there’s little to like about traveling through U.S. airports these days. But some airports are bucking that trend with thoughtful terminal designs, locally inspired food and retail options, and friendly staff. Consumer analytics company J.D. Power recently revealed the J.D. Power 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, ranking the North American airports that travelers found most satisfying to transit this year. Find out the results below — and see which hub took the No. 1 spot for the second year in a row.

Top 10 Mega Airports

The J.D. Power study ranked airports in three separate categories based on size. In the “mega” category were airports with 33 million or more passengers per year, and one Midwest airport landed at the top of the pack for the second consecutive year. 

In 2025, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport had an overall passenger satisfaction score of 660 (out of 1,000). Travelers found the Twin Cities airport easy to navigate and were impressed by ongoing improvements to the terminal facilities, including a 17,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of Terminal 1, which serves as a major hub for Delta Air Lines. The project improved passenger flow through TSA checkpoints and modernized amenities such as ticketing counters, baggage carousels, and restrooms. Of course, it helps that Minneapolis-St. Paul International frequently ranks as one of the most on-time airports in the country. 

Here are the top 10 mega U.S. airports for passenger satisfaction: 

• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (660 out of 1,000 points)
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (649 points)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (634 points)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (620 points)
• Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (619 points)
• New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (618 points)
• Orlando International Airport (618 points)
• Miami International Airport (615 points)
• San Francisco International Airport (613 points)
• Boston Logan International Airport (608 points)

Top 10 Large Airports

Largely due to shorter wait times and less crowding, airports in the “large” category (10 million to 32.9 million passengers per year) fared better overall in passenger satisfaction scores than “mega” airports. The winner in this category is also no stranger to the top spot: Orange County’s John Wayne Airport in Southern California took the crown for the second year in a row. 

The airport is a popular choice for travelers looking for quick access to Orange County’s beaches and theme parks — as well as those wishing to avoid the crowds and chaos at LAX, Southern California’s busiest hub. Passengers praised John Wayne Airport for its terminal facilities and easy travel experience, and the airport also scored highest in its category for passenger trust.

These were the top 10 large airports in the J.D. Power study:

• Orange County John Wayne Airport (730 out of 1,000 points)
• Tampa International Airport (709 points)
• Dallas Love Field (705 points)
• Kansas City International Airport (691 points)
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (688 points)
• Portland International Airport (683 points)
• Nashville International Airport (676 points)
• Vancouver International Airport (671 points)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (665 points)
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (664 points)

Top 10 Medium Airports

Lastly, airports in the “medium” category welcomed 4.5 million to 9.9 million annual passengers. Indianapolis International Airport took the top spot for the fourth consecutive year and the seventh time overall. Travelers were particularly impressed with Indy’s terminal facilities and wide range of retail and food options, including local favorites such as Shapiro’s and Sun King.

Here’s the full list of the top 10 medium airports:

• Indianapolis International Airport (713 out of 1,000 points)
• Ontario International Airport (709 points)
• Buffalo Niagara International Airport (698 points)
• Jacksonville International Airport (695 points)
• Palm Beach International Airport (688 points)
• Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (685 points)
• Southwest Florida International Airport (683 points)
• Bradley International Airport (Connecticut) (675 points)
• Hollywood Burbank Airport (663 points)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (660 points)

About the data: The J.D. Power 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study compiled opinions from more than 30,000 U.S. and Canadian airline passengers from July 2024 to June 2025. The study ranked passenger satisfaction across seven key areas (in order of importance): ease of travel through airport; level of trust with airport; terminal facilities; airport staff; departure/to airport experience; food, beverage and retail; and arrival/from airport experience. View the full report here.

Featured image credit: Melissa Kopka/ ​​iStock Editorial via Getty Images Plus