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These are North America's best airports, according to J.D. Power's 2025 rankings

David SlotnickContributing aviation editor
David Slotnick is TPG's contributing aviation editor. He covers the ins and outs of the airline industry.

September 17, 2025 • 6 min read

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Travelers may face frustrations with high fares, full flights, and drastically changing airline business models, but at least one part of the journey is better than ever: the airport.

That's according to a new report from J.D. Power, which found that consumer satisfaction with North American airports is improving, with scores up across the board from last year. On a scale out of 1,000 points, overall satisfaction with "mega" airports — which J.D. Power defines as airports with 33 million or more passengers per year — was up 8 points. Overall satisfaction with "large" airports, which see 10 million to 32.9 million passengers each year, was up 15 points, while satisfaction with "medium" airports — those with 4.5 million to 9.9 million passengers annually — was up 10 points.

And while scores are up, there are signs of consistency in the firm's 2025 North American Airport Satisfaction Study. For the second year in a row, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, and Indianapolis International Airport (IND) led their respective airport categories.

John Wayne Airport (SNA). ALLEN J. SCHABEN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/GETTY IMAGES

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In the "mega" airport category, MSP took the top spot with 660 points (which was actually down 11 points compared to 2024). Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) came in second with 649 points, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) came in third with 634 points.

For the fourth year in a row, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) finished in last place, albeit with a score of 565 — up 13 points from last year.

United 737 at Newark — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

SNA led the "large" category for the second consecutive year with 730 points, with Tampa International Airport (TPA) coming in second and Dallas Love Field (DAL) ranking third.

In the "medium" category, IND led for the fourth consecutive year. Ontario International Airport (ONT) in California came in second, while Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) ranked third.

The results are based on surveys of 30,439 U.S. and Canadian travelers who passed through at least one North American airport between July 2024 and July 2025. Like previous years, the survey was focused on seven key factors: ease of travel through the airport, level of trust with the airport, terminal facilities, airport staff, experience departing from the airport on the ground, food and retail experience, and the experience arriving at or traveling to the airport.

"A big part of this recent increase in passenger satisfaction is due to recently completed improvements in many airport facilities themselves. A few big capital improvement projects have now been completed and many more are underway or about to break ground," said Michael Taylor, J.D. Power's managing director of travel, hospitality and retail.

One of the other bigger factors improving scores was the availability of original and robust dining and retail options, J.D. Power found. Satisfaction with food, beverage and retail was up 14 points over last year, largely attributed to what J.D. Power described as "authentic local" brands that create a "genuine sense of location."

"A decades long trend of bringing unique, local flavor to the passenger experience has positively impacted the airport experience with these local touches having a major influence on passenger satisfaction," Taylor added.

Here is the full list of airport ratings, divided into J.D. Power's mega, large and medium categories:

Mega Airports

1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP): 660

2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW): 649

3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): 634

4. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): 620

5. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): 619

7. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): 618 (tie)

7. Orlando International Airport (MCO): 618 (tie)

9. Miami International Airport (MIA) - 615

10. San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 613

11. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): 608

12. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 606 (tie)

12. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): 606 (tie)

14. Denver International Airport (DEN): 596

15. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 590

16. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): 589

17. O'Hare International Airport (ORD): 586

18. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): 583

19. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT): 581

20. Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ): 567

21. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 565

Large Airports

1. John Wayne Airport (SNA): 730

2. Tampa International Airport (TPA): 709

3. Dallas Love Field (DAL): 705

4. Kansas City International Airport (MCI): 691

5. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU): 688

6. Portland International Airport (PDX): 683

7. Nashville International Airport (BNA): 676

8. Vancouver International Airport (YVR): 671

9. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC): 665

10. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY): 664

11. Sacramento International Airport (SMF): 662

12. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): 650 (tie)

12. San Antonio International Airport (SAN): 650 (tie)

12. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC): 650 (tie)

15. San Diego International Airport (SAN): 645

16. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS): 643 (tie)

16. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): 643 (tie)

18. LaGuardia Airport (LGA): 637

19. Midway International Airport (MDW): 631

20. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): 623

21. Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK): 618

22. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL): 617

23. Dulles International Airport (IAD): 612

24. Calgary International Airport (YYC): 610

25. St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL): 602

26. Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL): 571

27. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): 570

Medium Airports

1. Indianapolis International Airport (IND): 713

2. Ontario International Airport (ONT): 709

3. Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF): 698

4. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX): 695

5. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): 688

6. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE): 685

7. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW): 683

8. Bradley International Airport (BDL): 675

9. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): 663

10. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG): 660

11. John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH): 639 (tie)

11. Pittsburgh International Airport: 639 (tie)

13. Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ): 627

14. Kahului Airport (OGG): 626

15. Eppley Airfield (OMA): 618

16. Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW): 614

17. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE): 611

18. Edmonton International Airport (YEG): 602

Related reading:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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Travelers may face frustrations with high fares, full flights, and drastically changing airline business models, but at least one part of the journey is better than ever: the airport.

Bargain hunting: When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?

For the fourth year in a row, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) finished in last place, albeit with a score of 565 — up 13 points from last year.

SNA led the "large" category for the second consecutive year with 730 points, with Tampa International Airport (TPA) coming in second and Dallas Love Field (DAL) ranking third.

In the "medium" category, IND led for the fourth consecutive year. Ontario International Airport (ONT) in California came in second, while Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) ranked third.

Here is the full list of airport ratings, divided into J.D. Power's mega, large and medium categories:

Mega Airports

1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP): 660

2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW): 649

3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): 634

4. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): 620

5. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): 619

7. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): 618 (tie)

7. Orlando International Airport (MCO): 618 (tie)

9. Miami International Airport (MIA) - 615

10. San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 613

11. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): 608

12. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): 606 (tie)

12. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): 606 (tie)

14. Denver International Airport (DEN): 596

15. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 590

16. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): 589

17. O'Hare International Airport (ORD): 586

18. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): 583

19. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT): 581

20. Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ): 567

21. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 565

Large Airports

1. John Wayne Airport (SNA): 730

2. Tampa International Airport (TPA): 709

3. Dallas Love Field (DAL): 705

4. Kansas City International Airport (MCI): 691

5. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU): 688

6. Portland International Airport (PDX): 683

7. Nashville International Airport (BNA): 676

8. Vancouver International Airport (YVR): 671

9. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC): 665

10. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY): 664

11. Sacramento International Airport (SMF): 662

12. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): 650 (tie)

12. San Antonio International Airport (SAN): 650 (tie)

12. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC): 650 (tie)

15. San Diego International Airport (SAN): 645

16. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS): 643 (tie)

16. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): 643 (tie)

18. LaGuardia Airport (LGA): 637

19. Midway International Airport (MDW): 631

20. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): 623

21. Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK): 618

22. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL): 617

23. Dulles International Airport (IAD): 612

24. Calgary International Airport (YYC): 610

25. St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL): 602

26. Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL): 571

27. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): 570

Medium Airports

1. Indianapolis International Airport (IND): 713

2. Ontario International Airport (ONT): 709

3. Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF): 698

4. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX): 695

5. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): 688

6. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE): 685

7. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW): 683

8. Bradley International Airport (BDL): 675

9. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): 663

10. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG): 660

11. John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH): 639 (tie)

11. Pittsburgh International Airport: 639 (tie)

13. Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ): 627

14. Kahului Airport (OGG): 626

15. Eppley Airfield (OMA): 618

16. Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW): 614

17. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE): 611

18. Edmonton International Airport (YEG): 602

Related reading:

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Mega Airports

Large Airports

Medium Airports

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Pros + cons

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Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

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More details

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Recommended credit

Pros + cons

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