The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
New York and LA didn't win America's best mega airport title, but one Midwest hub did
Coastal airports were outpaced as J.D. Power named Minneapolis the top mega hub for a third year, while Tampa and Charleston led their categories amid rising satisfaction scores.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has topped the mega airport category in the 2026 North America rankings by J.D. Power, marking its third consecutive year at the top in this size class. The airport earned 684 points on J.D. Power’s 1,000-point scale.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport placed second among mega airports with 663 points, followed by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with 642 points. The rankings are part of J.D. Power’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which uses multiple passenger-survey metrics.
The study also identified Tampa International Airport as the top-performing large airport, with a score of 715, followed by Portland International Airport and Dallas Love Field. In the medium-airport category, Charleston International Airport led with 712 points, ahead of Ontario International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport.
Travel-expert commentary highlighted that Minneapolis offers convenient access for both local and connecting passengers, including light rail options and security-efficient amenities. The study notes that airports with ongoing capital improvements have shown higher passenger satisfaction scores across categories.
Overall, the report emphasizes that clear signage, easy navigation, and improved food, beverage and retail programs contributed to rising satisfaction. The findings are based on 24,710 completed surveys from U.S. and Canadian travelers who used at least one airport in the U.S. or Canada.