Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Ranked Best In North America For Third-Straight Year

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has once again claimed the title of most satisfying mega airport in North America, according to J.D. Power, the data analytics firm best known for its automotive industry rankings.

The 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, released Tuesday, ranked MSP Airport highest among mega airports for a third consecutive year, with a satisfaction score of 684 out of 1,000.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport came in second with 663, followed by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 642.

Overall passenger satisfaction with North American airports climbed significantly this year despite passenger volume holding near record highs set in 2025.

J.D. Power attributed the improvement largely to a wave of major airport construction projects that have recently wrapped up or are nearing completion.

Mega airports saw satisfaction scores rise 14 points on the study's 1,000 point scale, while large airports gained 13 points and medium airports gained 16 points.

Here is how the top three airports ranked in each of the study's three size categories, on a 1,000 point scale:

Mega airports (33 million or more passengers per year)

1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport: 684
2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport: 663
3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: 642

Large airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year)

1. Tampa International Airport: 715
2. Portland International Airport: 708
3. Dallas Love Field: 698

Medium airports (4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year)

1. Charleston International Airport: 712
2. Ontario International Airport: 705
3. Indianapolis International Airport: 695

According to the study, two design elements matter most to travelers: clear signage and wayfinding that gets passengers to their gate without confusion and terminal design that reflects the personality of the airport's home city.

Food and beverage offerings also played a bigger role this year, with satisfaction in that category rising 8 points as airports blend local restaurants and shops with recognizable national brands.

The study also found a direct link between passenger mood and spending. Travelers who called their airport experience "perfect" spent an average of $47.60 in the terminal, more than $20 above those who rated their experience as merely "OK.

Only 12 percent of trips earned that top rating.

J.D. Power based its findings on more than 24,000 surveys of U.S. and Canadian travelers collected between July 2025 and July 2026.