Minneapolis Teams Up With Tampa and Charleston Airports Win Over Travelers as US Passenger Satisfaction Climbs in 2026

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Minneapolis, Tampa and Charleston are giving air travelers something increasingly valuable in 2026: airports that feel easier to navigate even as millions of passengers continue moving through the U.S. aviation system. The latest J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study places Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Tampa International Airport and Charleston International Airport at the top of their respective size categories, as years of terminal investment begin translating into better passenger experiences.

Major Airport Investments Begin to Reach the Passenger

Airport construction can test travelers’ patience, but the 2026 findings suggest some of that disruption is producing tangible benefits.

Passenger satisfaction increased by 14 points among mega airports, 13 points among large airports and 16 points among medium airports on J.D. Power’s 1,000-point scale. The study assessed airports through seven dimensions, including ease of navigating the airport, trust, terminal facilities, staff, departure and arrival experiences, and food, beverage and retail offerings.

The results were drawn from 24,710 completed surveys from U.S. and Canadian residents who had traveled through at least one eligible airport during the previous 30 days. Responses were collected from July 2025 through July 2026 and covered departure, arrival and connecting-airport experiences.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul Extends Its Mega-Airport Streak

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) ranked first among mega airports for a third consecutive year, recording 684 points. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport followed with 663, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport scored 642.

MSP’s performance was broad rather than concentrated in one area. The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which owns and operates the airport, said MSP ranked first across all seven dimensions evaluated in the study.

“Our repeat No. 1 ranking is a testament to the appreciation travelers have for the service, hospitality and amenities that make trips through MSP easy and memorable,” MAC CEO and Executive Director Brian Ryks said following the results.

The recognition comes after extensive physical changes at the airport. A $600 million Operational Improvements Program modernized Terminal 1’s pre-security areas, while a separate $242 million program renovated six concourses and approximately 75 Delta gate waiting areas.

More work is underway. MSP is expanding Terminal 2 and progressing with a $305 million Concourse G project that is expected to widen passenger areas, increase gate seating by 52% and add capacity for international arrivals.

Those improvements matter at a gateway that served more than 36 million passengers in 2025 and provides nonstop service to 167 destinations in 2026, including 35 international routes.

Tampa Leads the Large-Airport Category

Tampa International Airport (TPA) recorded the highest category-leading score in the study, with 715 points among large airports. Portland International Airport followed at 708 and Dallas Love Field at 698.

For Tampa, the recognition marks its third J.D. Power large-airport customer-satisfaction award in five years, following wins in 2022 and 2023 and second-place finishes in 2024 and 2025.

TPA led its category for trust, the experience of departing for the airport and the arrival/from-airport experience. It also placed second for terminal facilities, airport staff and ease of travel through the airport, according to the airport.

Airport CEO Michael Stephens attributed the result to service, facilities and amenities designed around passenger convenience.

Tampa is not standing still. Its 600,000-square-foot Airside D project is scheduled to open in 2029 with 16 gates, a new U.S. Customs inspection facility, additional restaurants and shops, and two lounges. The project is part of a long-running master plan that has reshaped the airport since 2012.

Charleston Emerges as the Medium-Airport Leader

Charleston International Airport (CHS) led the medium-airport category with 712 points, ahead of Ontario International Airport at 705 and Indianapolis International Airport at 695.

Charleston’s result represents a notable change from the previous study. Indianapolis had led the category in 2025, while Charleston was not among that year’s ranked medium airports.

The result also gives South Carolina’s principal air gateway another opportunity to connect the airport experience with Charleston’s wider tourism identity. J.D. Power’s findings indicate that passengers respond positively not only to functional improvements but also to terminals that convey a sense of their surrounding city through design, dining and retail.

Clear Signs and Local Character Are Becoming More Important

The findings suggest that expensive architecture alone does not determine whether passengers enjoy an airport.

Wayfinding emerged as an important element of satisfaction. Clear signage can remove a basic but familiar source of travel anxiety: arriving in an unfamiliar terminal and trying to locate security, baggage claim or a connecting gate.

Food, beverage and retail satisfaction also increased by eight points across the three airport groups. Airports combining recognizable national brands with local restaurants and businesses performed particularly well on this measure.

That local connection increasingly makes airports part of the destination experience rather than neutral transportation infrastructure.

Nearly 560 Million Passengers Passed Through America’s 20 Biggest Airports

The satisfaction gains are occurring against a backdrop of enormous passenger volumes.

U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics data shows that the country’s 20 busiest airports handled 559.7 million passengers in 2025, equivalent to 57.2% of the 978.5 million domestic and international passengers recorded across U.S. airports. Those same 20 gateways handled 85.6% of inbound and outbound international passengers.

That scale gives airport improvements significance beyond aesthetics. Changes to checkpoints, baggage facilities, gate areas, wayfinding and international-arrival infrastructure can affect millions of journeys each year.

Better Airports Can Change How a Trip Feels

Airports occupy an unusual place in travel. Few people choose a holiday because they want to spend time in a terminal, yet almost every flight begins and ends in one.

The 2026 satisfaction results show what happens when airports focus on the small moments passengers actually experience: finding the correct gate without confusion, moving through a bright and comfortable concourse, having useful dining choices during a delay, or collecting a bag without turning the final hour of a journey into another ordeal.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Tampa and Charleston operate at very different scales, but their results point toward the same idea. For a tired traveler carrying a suitcase through an unfamiliar city, a good airport does not need to become the highlight of the trip. Sometimes the most memorable service an airport can provide is simply making the journey feel easier.