Minneapolis-Saint Paul Named America’s Best Mega Airport Again in J.D. Power 2026 Rankings

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has once again been named the best mega airport in North America, topping J.D. Power’s 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study for a third consecutive year. The Minnesota hub scored 684 out of 1,000 points, ahead of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport at 663 and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 642.

The rankings, released by J.D. Power on September 16 and recirculated in new coverage on November 1, arrive just as millions of Americans start planning Thanksgiving travel — the busiest flying stretch of the year. And they carry a clear message for travelers: the airports passengers like most are, by and large, the ones that have recently finished major building work.

Overall satisfaction rose across every airport size category in 2026, even as passenger volumes stayed near record levels. Mega airports gained 14 points on average, large airports gained 13 and medium airports gained 16, according to J.D. Power. The study is based on 24,710 completed surveys from U.S. and Canadian residents who traveled through at least one airport in the previous 30 days, with responses collected from July 2025 through July 2026.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul makes it three in a row

Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) did not just win its category — it ranked first in all seven areas the study measures: ease of travel through the airport, trust in the airport, terminal facilities, airport staff, the departure and trip-to-airport experience, food, beverage and retail, and the arrival and trip-from-airport experience. That is a clean sweep for a hub that has now taken the mega-airport title in four of the past five years.

Its score of 684 is up from 660 in 2025, and it sits well above the mega-airport segment average of 617. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) held second place at 663, up from 649 a year earlier, while Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) took third at 642, up from 634.

At the other end of the mega-airport table, Chicago O’Hare and Newark Liberty International Airport tied for last place, each scoring 585 points. For New York-area travelers, the result will sting: Newark was also one of the airports hit hardest by the loss of Spirit Airlines seats this November, after the budget carrier ceased operations in May 2026.

Tampa and Charleston lead the smaller categories

Among large airports — those handling 10 million to 32.9 million passengers a year — Tampa International Airport (TPA) moved up from second place last year to take first with 715 points, up from 709. Portland International Airport (PDX) followed at 708, with Dallas Love Field (DAL) third at 698. The large-airport average was 657, up from 644 in 2025.

In the medium category, for airports serving 4.5 million to 9.9 million passengers a year, Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina led with 712 points. Ontario International Airport in California was second at 705, and Indianapolis International Airport third at 695.

J.D. Power defines mega airports as those serving 33 million or more passengers a year. The study measures perceived passenger experience — signage, navigation, staff, facilities and food — rather than ticket prices, route networks or on-time performance, so a top-ranked airport is not automatically the cheapest or best-connected option.

Why the winners keep winning: billion-dollar rebuilds

There is a common thread running through the winners. J.D. Power has pointed out that every category winner has recently completed, or is close to completing, a capital improvement project costing at least a billion dollars. The company’s managing director for travel, hospitality and retail, Michael Taylor, has put it bluntly: in this industry, improvement begins with a “b,” as in billion.

That helps explain why satisfaction climbed even in a year of near-record crowds. Newer terminals tend to mean clearer signage, shorter walks, better food halls and fewer bottlenecks at security and baggage claim — the exact things the survey asks travelers about. The New York Post’s coverage of the rankings noted the same pattern, quoting travel experts who praised airports that are easy to get through and close to the cities they serve, while noting that even a beautiful terminal can still be difficult to navigate.

For travelers, the practical lesson is to look beyond the headline ranking. A gleaming new terminal matters most on the parts of the journey that cause stress: getting to the airport, clearing security, finding the gate and getting out again on arrival.

What this means for Thanksgiving travel

The rankings land at a useful moment. Thanksgiving week is traditionally the busiest air-travel period in the United States, and this November brings extra pressure at some airports: the collapse of Spirit Airlines removed about 2.29 million scheduled November seats, with Newark, New Orleans, San Antonio, Detroit, Houston and New York LaGuardia among the airports seeing fewer seats than a year ago, according to Cirium schedule data reported in late October.

That combination — busier airports, fewer budget seats and fares at a 10-year high for Thanksgiving, according to the same reporting — makes the choice of airport and flight time matter more than usual. Travelers flying through the top-ranked hubs can reasonably expect smoother terminals, but no ranking protects against a delayed flight. Booking the first flight of the day, leaving extra time at large hubs and checking in online remain the simplest ways to cut risk.

Daylight saving time also ended across most of the U.S. on Sunday, November 1, shifting sunrise and sunset an hour earlier and prompting seasonal schedule adjustments on some international routes. Travelers with connecting flights this week should double-check departure times rather than relying on times saved before the clock change.

The full winners list

Mega airports (33 million+ passengers a year): 1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul (684); 2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (663); 3. Phoenix Sky Harbor (642). Segment average: 617.

Large airports (10–32.9 million passengers a year): 1. Tampa International (715); 2. Portland International (708); 3. Dallas Love Field (698). Segment average: 657.

Medium airports (4.5–9.9 million passengers a year): 1. Charleston International (712); 2. Ontario International (705); 3. Indianapolis International (695).

The study is in its 21st year. Canadian airports were excluded from the published rankings this year after a sampling change, so the list reflects U.S. airports only.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best airport in the U.S. in 2026?

According to J.D. Power’s 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the best mega airport in North America, scoring 684 out of 1,000 points. Tampa International is the top large airport (715) and Charleston International the top medium airport (712).

How does J.D. Power rank airports?

The study surveys travelers on seven dimensions: ease of travel through the airport, trust in the airport, terminal facilities, airport staff, the departure and trip-to-airport experience, food, beverage and retail, and the arrival and trip-from-airport experience. The 2026 study used 24,710 completed surveys collected from July 2025 through July 2026.

Does a high ranking mean cheaper flights?

No. The study measures passenger satisfaction with the airport experience, not fares, route choice or on-time performance. Travelers should still compare prices and schedules separately.

Why did satisfaction rise in 2026?

J.D. Power links the improvement to recently completed multibillion-dollar terminal projects at the winning airports, which improved navigation, facilities and the overall journey through the airport.

Sources: J.D. Power 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study via the Metropolitan Airports Commission press release; New York Post, November 1, 2026; Business Travel News; The Points Guy.

Related reading: New York Post — New York and LA didn’t win America’s best mega airport title, but one Midwest hub did | Business Travel News — JD Power: North American Airport Satisfaction Increases | The Points Guy — North America’s best airports 2026, according to J.D. Power

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