New York and LA didn't win America's best mega airport title, but one Midwest hub did

Key Points:

• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranked highest among North America's mega airports for the third consecutive year in J.D. Power's 2026 rankings, scoring 684 points and outperforming major coastal hubs like New York and Los Angeles.
• Tampa International Airport and Charleston International Airport topped the large and medium airport categories respectively, with Tampa scoring 715 points and Charleston 712, praised for organization and ease of navigation.
• Overall passenger satisfaction increased across all airport categories, attributed to recent or ongoing capital improvement projects at top-ranked airports, enhancing amenities and passenger experience.
• Key factors driving satisfaction included clear signage, easy navigation, and improved food, beverage, and retail options, which rose eight points year over year.
• The study, based on over 24,000 surveys, evaluates airports across seven areas including ease of travel, terminal facilities, staff, and trust, categorizing airports by passenger volume into mega, large, and medium groups.