U.S. and Canadian Travelers Are Happier With Airports This Year, New Study Finds

Airports aren’t always the most relaxing places, especially when they are crowded. However, a new study found that travelers are actually happier with their airport experiences this year.

The 2026 J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study found that overall satisfaction went up across mega, large, and medium airports. That happened even as passenger traffic remained at or near the record levels seen in 2025.

J.D. Power says years of airport construction and renovation projects are finally starting to pay off. Many airports have added new restaurants, redesigned terminals and made it easier for travelers to find their way around.

The study was based on 24,710 surveys from U.S. and Canadian residents who traveled through at least one North American airport. The surveys were collected between July 2025 and July 2026.

Travelers Like Airports That Feel Local

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People seemed to love clear signs and easy-to-follow directions as well as terminals that actually felt connected to the city they were visiting.

Satisfaction with airport food, drinks and shopping went up eight points from last year. J.D. Power says travelers liked seeing local restaurants and brands, although familiar national chains were still important.

These Airports Ranked the Highest

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranked highest among mega airports for the third year in a row. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport came in second, followed by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Tampa International Airport took the top spot among large airports. Portland International Airport ranked second, and Dallas Love Field third.

Among medium airports, Charleston International Airport ranked first, followed by Ontario International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport.

Happier Travelers Spend More Money

The study also found an interesting connection between how people feel about an airport and how much money they spend while they’re there.

Travelers who described their airport experience as “perfect” spent an average of $47.60 inside the terminal. That’s $20.22 more than travelers who said their experience was just OK. Those perfect airport days are still pretty rare, though. J.D. Power found that only about 12% of airport trips earned that rating.