Tampa International Airport landed at No. 1 for customer satisfaction among large airports in the 2026 JD Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study, released Sept. 16.
The study found that overall passenger satisfaction
increased significantly this year in North American airports despite near-record passenger volumes, largely because dozens of major airport improvement projects were finally wrapped up.Overall satisfaction increased 14 points (on a 1,000-point scale) for mega airports, 13 points for large airports, and 16 points for medium airports, the study showed. All of the highest-ranked airports in the study recently completed, or are close to completing, multi-year, billion-dollar capital improvement projects.
JD Power's annual study,
now in its 21st year, also found that passengers responded to clear signage, bold designs, and more authentic local food and beverage brands mixed in with chain favorites.
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Among the mega airports (those with 33 million or more passengers per year), Miami International Airport ranked seventh and Orlando International Airport at No. 10. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport ranked below the average for this size, at No. 13. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport topped the list for the third consecutive year.
Tampa was No. 1 for large airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year) for the third time, up from second place last year, with Southwest Florida International Airport jumping up to a new category and coming in at No. 9
Palm Beach International Airport was the highest-ranking medium-sized airport (4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year) in Florida. Charleston International Airport was No. 1, followed by Ontario International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport. Jacksonville International Airport came in at No. 10, below the average.
“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 overall passenger experience,” said Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at JD Power.
“On the whole, those efforts are finally starting to pay off in the form of higher overall passenger satisfaction scores.”
Better experiences also translated to more spending. Passengers who rated their airport experience as “perfect” spent an average of $47.60 in the terminal, the study said. That was $20.22 more than passengers who rated their airport experience as “just OK.”
Here's how Florida airports ranked in the 2025 North American Airport Satisfaction Study.
Mega airports: Miami International Airport (MIA) ranks 7th
On a 1,000-point scale based on 24,710 completed surveys of U.S. or Canadian passengers on items such as ease of travel, level of trust, terminal facilities, staff, food, beverage and retail, and more, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) was once again the highest ranked among mega airports with 684 points, up from last year's 660.
Miami International Airport (MIA) bumped up one spot to No. 7, with 628 points.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) received more points than last year, 621 vs. 618, but still dropped three spots to No. 10. That's still a vast improvement over 2024, when it came in with 596 points, six points below that year's national average.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) sank two spots to No. 13 with 612, still more than last year's 606.
Mega airports are defined as those with 33 million or more passengers per year. The North American average point total was 617.
Large airports: Tampa International Airport (TPA) rises to No. 1
After two years of being second best, Tampa International Airport (TPA) came in for a landing in the No. 1 spot with 715 points, up from 709 in 2025. Tampa also scored No. 1 in 2022 and 2023.
“Tampa International Airport is incredibly proud to receive our third JD Power award in just five years, an honor that reflects what our passengers experience every day when they travel through our world-class facilities," Airport CEO Michael Stephens said in a release. "TPA has built a reputation for friendly, helpful service; clean, modern facilities; and spacious amenities that are convenient and accessible to all.”
Participants ranked TPA the highest in three of the seven things the study measured: Level of Trust with Airport, Departure/to Airport Experience; and Arrival/From Airport Experience. TPA also ranked highly in Ease of Travel Through Airport (No. 2), Airport Staff (No. 2), Food, Beverage and Retail (No. 3), and Terminal Facilities (No. 2).
Southwest Florida International Airport dropped a few points from last year, 680 compared to 683 in 2025, but this year it's competing with the big boys with an appearance on the large airports rankings.
Large airports are defined in the study as airports with 10 to 32.9 million passengers per year. The North American average point total was 657.
Medium airports: Palm Beach drops, Jacksonville plummets
There was a shakeup this year, with both medium-sized Florida airports losing ground to last year's rankings.
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) slipped back one to No. 6 with 682 points, down from last year's 688.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), which ranked 2nd in 2024 and 4th in 2025, dropped down to No. 10 with 671 points, below the North American average.
Medium airports are defined in the study as airports with 4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year. The North American average point total was 672.
The surveys were taken of U.S. or Canadian residents who traveled through at least one U.S. or Canadian airport and covers both departure and arrival experiences (including connecting airports) during the past 30 days, JD Power said. Passengers evaluated either a departing or arriving airport from their round-trip experience. The study ran from July 2025 through July 2026.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida airport No. 1 in satisfaction survey. How did the rest do?
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