What makes an airport satisfying to travel through? The folks at consumer analytics company J.D. Power set out to answer that question with the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which compiled opinions from more than 26,000 U.S. and Canadian airline passengers. The study divided airports into three categories based on passenger volume, and analyzed factors such as ease of travel through airport, terminal facilities, staff, food and beverage, and retail options. Take a look at which so-called “mega airports” — those with 33 million or more passengers per year — scored the highest ranking among travelers. Here are North America’s best large airports in 2024.
8. Orlando International Airport – Florida
The busiest airport in Florida also scored the state’s highest satisfaction rating among travelers. That’s good news, considering that Orlando International Airport expects to see record passenger volumes this year (a trend among many airports in the survey), with some estimates projecting 60 million passengers by the end of 2024. The airport opened the state-of-the-art Terminal C in late 2022 and currently has plans to expand and renovate existing terminals. Orlando’s large passenger volumes should come as no surprise, given it’s one of America’s top 10 tourist destinations.
7. San Francisco International Airport – California
California’s San Francisco International Airport is also overhauling its terminals to improve the passenger experience, which is reflected in its No. 7 ranking in the survey of America’s best large airports. Notably, SFO debuted the final section of its award-winning Harvey Milk Terminal 1 in 2024. The terminal features a spacious new check-in lobby and gate areas with modern amenities, dozens of retail and dining options, and a gallery and museum area honoring San Francisco’s hometown trailblazing LGBTQ+ politician Harvey Milk. The airport is also known for its innovative passenger amenities, such as yoga rooms and therapy dogs roaming the terminals.
6. Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport – Nevada
It wouldn’t be Sin City without the chance to gamble at the slots, hundreds of which can be found throughout the terminals at Harry Reid International Airport. Perhaps that’s one reason passengers ranked the airport the No. 6 best large airport in the U.S. Like Orlando International, Harry Reid International serves one of the busiest tourist destinations in the U.S., and the airport is planning a major expansion to meet surging passenger demand. The current plan calls for 26 new gates to be added to Terminal 1 in the coming years.
5. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth International fits the “mega airport” category better than any other airport on this list — it’s not only the second-busiest airport in the U.S., but also the second-busiest in the world. The North Texas airport serves around 73 million passengers annually and is a major hub for American Airlines, the world’s largest airline by passenger volume. Despite all that traffic, DFW officials have risen to the challenge — the airport landed at No. 5 in the 2024 J.D. Power ranking.
4. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport – New York
JFK is one of three airports serving America’s largest metro area, along with LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airport. While LaGuardia fell into the “medium” airport category in the survey, JFK landed ahead of Newark in the “mega airport” ranking. Perhaps JFK’s travelers were satisfied by the sheer number of destinations at their fingertips — it was named America’s most connected airport, with flights to over 180 international destinations. The airport is also revamping its passenger experience, including by building a brand-new Terminal One slated to open in 2026. Meanwhile, individual airlines are adding new amenities like the 39,000-square-foot Delta One Lounge for premium passengers in Terminal 4.
3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – Arizona
Serving America’s most populous capital city, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is yet another U.S. airport on track for its busiest year ever. Fortunately, passengers still had a favorable impression when traveling through this busy hub for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. On a typical day, more than 130,000 passengers transit the airport, which has three passenger terminals; the newest, Terminal 4, added an eight-gate concourse in 2022 to accommodate growth in passenger traffic.
2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – Michigan
Detroit is home to America’s second-best airport, according to the J.D. Power survey. In a separate ranking from USA Today’s 10Best, the airport also scored high marks for its variety of shopping and dining options, ranking No. 2 in both categories. Detroit is a major hub for Delta Air Lines, which has invested in the passenger experience with initiatives such as its Delta Digital ID program that uses facial recognition to save travelers time at the airport.
1. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – Minnesota
Another busy Delta hub ranked highest in satisfaction among America’s “mega airports.” The airport impressed travelers with its ease of use and amenities, but perhaps another important factor was its timeliness — after all, no passenger likes a flight delay. In a separate study, the Twin Cities’ primary international gateway ranked as the most on-time airport in the U.S. Interestingly, the best airport in the country is also one of the oldest airports in America, dating back to 1920.
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