Nashville International Airport is among the top-ranked large airports in the country, according to a new report from data analytics firm J.D. Power.
The company's 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study found that overall passenger satisfaction continues to rise despite consistently high traveler volumes.
Researchers also found that airports that create a strong sense of place through local food, beverage and design offerings tend to receive higher ratings from travelers. The study further found a correlation between passenger satisfaction and terminal spending.
In 2019, BNA began prioritizing local businesses as part of a broader effort to build on Nashville's reputation for live music and regional dining.
Airport leaders added local brands
including Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Ole Red and Prince's Hot Chicken, followed by TailGate Brewery, Swett's, Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant and Bongo Java. Reese Witherspoon's Draper James and Ann Patchett's Parnassus Books were added as well.
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Now, airport officials are expanding that local-first strategy with a new slate of Nashville-based businesses planned for the airport's $855 million Concourse A, which is scheduled to open in 2028, The Tennessean reported.
“For the better part of the last decade, nearly every airport, from the largest international hubs to midsized airfields, has undertaken a significant capital improvement project aimed at streamlining passenger flow, adding attractive food and beverage options and improving the overall passenger experience,” said Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power, in a statement.
“On the whole, those efforts are finally starting to pay off in the form of higher overall passenger satisfaction scores," he added. "However, when it comes to the individual experiences of passengers, every detail counts and the specific design and structural decisions airports make can have a significant influence on how passengers spend their time – and their money – in the terminal.”
Here's where BNA ranked and what's coming next for the airport.
BNA ranks among top 10 best large airports in the country for customer satisfaction
BNA ranked sixth among large airports in the study with a score of 683.
The top five airports in the category were Tampa International Airport (715), Portland International Airport (708), Dallas Love Field (698), Kansas City International Airport (692) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (685).
The report's findings closely align with the strategy BNA has pursued in recent years.
J.D. Power found that travelers respond favorably to airports that create a strong sense of place through local food, beverage and retail offerings while maintaining an easy-to-navigate passenger experience. The study also found that major capital improvement projects tend to boost satisfaction scores, even as passenger traffic remains high, and that travelers who report the best airport experiences spend significantly more money inside terminals.
As part of its ongoing expansion, the airport plans to add more local businesses to its concessions lineup, including Eric Church's Broadway venue Chief's, East Nashville restaurant Turkey and the Wolf and Coolship Coffee Co., a new coffee concept from TailGate Brewery.
New retail concepts, Nashville Remix and Greatest Hits, are also planned for Concourse A.
Beyond the new $855 million Concourse A, theMetro Nashville Airport Authority recently approved the purchase of two parcels for nearly $8 millionto support a future runway extension designed to accommodate additional long-haul international service, including potential flights to Asia.
Top 10 large airports in the U.S. for customer satisfaction
- Tampa International Airport (715)
- Portland International Airport (708)
- Dallas Love Field (698)
- Kansas City International Airport (692)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (685)
- Nashville International Airport (683)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (682)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (682)
- Southwest Florida International Airport (680)
- John Wayne Airport Orange County (677)
Methodology
J.D. Power's North America Airport Satisfaction Study measures passenger satisfaction across seven factors, including ease of travel, trust, terminal facilities, staff, airport access, concessions and the arrival experience.
The 2026 study surveyed 24,710 travelers who passed through U.S. and Canadian airports between July 2025 and July 2026. Airports are grouped by annual passenger volume, with large airports handling between 10 million and 32.9 million passengers per year.
Contributing: Hadley Hitson
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville airport lands top 10 ranking. Here's why travelers love BNA
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