Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport Tops 2026 Rankings
The airport secured the top spot in the mega airport category for the third year in a row in the latest J.D. Power survey.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Air Travel
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Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport claimed the top ranking among mega airports in the 2026 J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study. This marks the third consecutive year the airport has led its size category.
Why it matters
Top-performing facilities often see high satisfaction scores linked to the recent completion or advancement of multiyear capital improvement projects. These infrastructure upgrades are essential for improving passenger experiences across critical metrics like facility quality and ease of travel.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport led the mega category with 684 points, while Tampa International Airport scored 715 to lead large airports and Charleston International Airport hit 712 to top the medium category.
The players
J.D. Power
This global data analytics and consumer intelligence firm produces annual performance rankings for various industries, including aviation.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
This airport serves the Twin Cities region and has maintained the top mega airport ranking for three consecutive years.
Tampa International Airport
This facility serves the Florida Gulf Coast and earned the highest score among large airports in the current study.
Charleston International Airport
This airport serves the South Carolina Lowcountry and took the first-place spot in the medium airport category.
The details
The study analyzed passenger feedback from 24,710 U.S. and Canadian residents to evaluate performance across seven areas, including trust and staff interactions. Other high-performing hubs include Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County and Phoenix Sky Harbor in the mega category, and Portland International and Dallas Love Field among large airports.
Timeline
J.D. Power released its annual 2026 airport rankings on October 31, 2026.
Travel Outlook
These results follow the standard methodology of the J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which provides a recurring benchmark for terminal performance. This year's rankings update the annual performance leaderboard established by this long-running industry study.
Travelers can use these performance rankings to identify hubs that prioritize efficient facilities and staff interactions when booking future trips. Understanding which airports have completed recent capital improvements may help passengers anticipate the quality of their terminal experience.
The takeaway
High satisfaction scores often correlate with significant investments in terminal infrastructure that streamline the passenger journey. Travelers should prioritize airports that are actively engaged in multiyear improvement projects to ensure a higher quality experience.
Further reading
Learn more about industry trends in Air Travel.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox News.
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Does an airport's ease of navigation matter more to you than its amenities and renovations?
