For a third straight year, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport ranked as one of the country's best airports in a new airport satisfaction study.
Sky Harbor was the No. 3 mega airport on J.D. Power's 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, the same rank as 2025 and 2024. Mega airports are airports with 33 million or more passengers per year.
Like each of the last two years, the top mega airport for 2026 is Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Sky Harbor maintained a strong ranking in the survey in a year when airport satisfaction nationwide has been improving thanks to "dozens of major airport capital improvement projects finally reaching completion" that include new restaurants and passenger experience enhancements, said Michael
Taylor, J.D. Power's managing director of travel, hospitality and retail.
How was J.D. Power's 2026 airport ranking conducted?
J.D. Power's 2026 airport satisfaction study, its 21st, was compiled from 24,710 surveys of U.S. and Canadian residents who traveled through at least one U.S. or Canadian airport between July 2025 and July 2026.
It evaluated airports based on customer experiences in seven categories:
- Ease of travel through the airport.
- Level of trust with the airport.
- Terminal facilities.
- Airport staff.
- Departure experience.
- Food, beverage and retail.
- Arrival experience.
Why is Phoenix Sky Harbor No. 3 in J.D. Power's airport ranking?
Sky Harbor ranked No. 3, the same position it held in 2024 and 2025. It previously ranked as the nation's No. 1 mega airport in 2020.
Just as it did in 2024 and 2025, the airport performed above average in six of the seven categories.
"Passengers rate (Sky Harbor) as a very reliable, calm airport and it has an excellent reputation among travelers," Taylor said.
Sky Harbor continued lagging behind other airports for its food, beverage and retail options, but Taylor said he thinks the airport's new concessions initiative should help its standing in the coming years.
Sky Harbor's new contract with its food and beverage concessionaires included the approval of seven new restaurant concepts to replace underperforming restaurants. Two of them, The Farm at South Mountain and Ingo's Tasty Food, are under construction. Sky Harbor spokeswoman Monica Hernandez said that two more new restaurants, Cactus & Cow Burger Bar and Greenwood Brewing, are in the planning and design stage.
How Phoenix airport staff reacted to 2026 best airports ranking
Sky Harbor staff said they continue striving to elevate the airport experience for people traveling to and from Phoenix.
They cited the debuts of nonstop service to Taipei, Taiwan via China Airlines in December 2025 and Starlux Airlines in January, expanded amenities such as its free PHX Reserve program now available in every terminal and accessibility improvements including new assistive technology to support people with low vision.
Sky Harbor also highlighted its community-building efforts as "America's Friendliest Airport" including its monthly Culture Corner events that feature live art demonstrations and entertainment, plus the addition of a Little Free Library where guests can take free books and/or donate books.
Looking to 2027, airport staff plan to finish two much-anticipated infrastructure projects: a new taxiway on the airfield's west side and a new concourse in Terminal 3. Sky Harbor recently received $18 million in federal funding to support both projects. Next year will also mark the 10th anniversary of the Navigator Buddy therapy dog program.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best US airports ranking is here. Where Phoenix Sky Harbor landed
