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Travelers rated these airports highest for 2026. Is yours on the list? (NEXSTAR) – Flying itself can be stressful, but passengers say some airports are doing a better job than others when it comes to the airport experience, according to a new study released Wednesday. JD Power’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study found that some airports are finding ways to “defy the odds” when it comes to handling record-breaking crowds, flight delays and security lines. The study’s authors say capital investments are the driving force behind the higher grades. “For the better part of the last decade, nearly every airport, from the largest international hubs to midsized airfields, has undertaken a significant capital improvement project aimed at streamlining passenger flow, adding attractive food and beverage options and improving overall passenger experience,” Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail said in a JD Power news release. The study broke the airports down into three categories according to size – mega, large and medium – and asked travelers to grade them based on ease of travel, level of trust, facilities, staff, departure/to experience, arrival/from experience, food, beverage and retail. Among mega airports, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International took top honors for the third straight year, with Tampa International first among large airports, and Charleston International beating out all medium airports for 2026. JD Power found that, despite increasing foot traffic, average airport grades were up on average for mega (14 points), large (13) and medium (16) airports. “All of the highest-ranked airports in the study have recently completed, or are close to completing, multi-year, billion dollar+ capital improvement projects,” according to the study. (Credit: JD Power) (Credit: JD Power) See the JD Power website for the full results. The study was based on a survey of 24,710 air travelers from the U.S. or Canada who flew between July 2025 and July 2026. “On the whole, [airport improvement] efforts are finally starting to pay off in the form of higher overall passenger satisfaction scores,” Taylor said. “However, when it comes to the individual experiences of passengers, every detail counts and the specific design and structural decisions airports make can have a significant influence on how passengers spend their time – and their money – in the terminal.” According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), more than 3 million people fly into and out of U.S. airports each day. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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