Tampa International Airport ranked first in passenger satisfaction among large North American airports in J.D. Power’s 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, scoring 715 out of 1,000 and reclaiming the top spot after two straight second-place finishes.
TPA also ranked first in 2022 and 2023, giving the airport three No. 1 finishes in five years. Portland International Airport placed second this year with a score of 708, followed by Dallas Love Field at 698.
TPA led large airports in three of the study’s seven categories: trust, the departure and trip-to-airport experience and the arrival and trip-from-airport experience. It ranked second in ease of travel, airport staff and terminal facilities and third in food, beverage and retail.
J.D. Power’s 24,710-response study, fielded across the United States and Canada from July 2025 through July 2026, defines large airports as those handling 10 million to 32.9 million passengers annually. TPA serves more than 24 million passengers a year.
The ranking arrives as TPA builds Airside D, a 600,000-square-foot terminal with 16 gates, a new U.S. Customs inspection facility, restaurants, shops and two lounges scheduled to open in 2029. The terminal anchors the third and final phase of a master plan that has added the rental car center, SkyConnect train and Express Curbsides since 2012.
Satisfaction among large airports rose 13 points this year despite heavy passenger traffic, and J.D. Power said the highest-ranked airports have either recently completed or are nearing completion on major capital programs. Clear signs and wayfinding were among the strongest drivers of satisfaction, along with terminal designs that reflect an airport’s home city.
Food, beverage and retail satisfaction increased eight points across all airport categories, with travelers responding favorably to a mix of local businesses and familiar national brands.
Passenger experience also tracked with spending. Travelers who rated their airport experience as “perfect” spent an average of $47.60 inside the terminal, compared with $27.38 among those who called it “just OK,” a $20.22 difference. Perfect experiences accounted for 12% of journeys surveyed.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport led the mega-airport category for the third consecutive year with a score of 684, while Charleston International Airport led the medium-airport category at 712.