best airports

What are the best, cleanest & most enjoyable airports?

Airports

Here at StuckatTheAirport.com, we often say that the best airport is the one that serves as the gateway to where you want to go.

But there are many ways – and many organizations – that evaluate airports using other measurements.

And that’s just fine.

Airports Council International (ACI) World is one of those organizations. And, in partnership with travel technology company Amadeus, ACI just announced the winners of the 2024 ASQ Airport Experience Awards, which are determined by passenger surveys.

Here are some of the North American airports that got some of the top honors. You’ll notice some patterns. An airport that gets it right in one category is likely to get it right in others.

You can see the full list of worldwide winners here.

Easiest Airport Journey

This award recognizes the top 5% of airports for their performance on the ease of going through the airport.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) Greer, South Carolina

Portland International Jetport (PWM) Portland, Maine

Most enjoyable airports

This award recognizes the top 5% of airports for their offering, such as restaurants, shop and entertainment, and for the their efforts towards making the waiting time enjoyable and comfortable.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GREE) Grand Rapids, Michigan

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) Greer, South Carolina

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) Indianapolis, Indiana

Cleanest Airport

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

Indianapolis International Airport

Best Airports in the region

This honor is awarded to the top 20% of the airports with overall satisfaction.

Under 2 million passengers per year

St John’s International Airport (St John’s, Canada)

Victoria International Airport (Victoria, Canada)

2 to 5 million passengers per year

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

Portland International Jetport (Portland, United States of America)

5 to 15 million passengers per year

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Indianapolis International Airport

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

Dallas Love Field Airport

Tampa International Airport

25 to 40 million passengers per year

LaGuardia Airport

Over 40 million passengers per year

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport

Which airports do travelers love the most?

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It turns out that Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) can win passengers’ hearts even without the promised aircraft viewing area with a pool announced on April Fools Day a few years back.

In the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, MSP ranks highest in passenger satisfaction in the ‘mega-airport’ category, followed by Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA) ranks highest among large airports, followed by Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Kansas City International Airport  (MCI).

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) ranks highest among medium airports (for the 3rd year in a row), Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) ranks second and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) ranks third.

“Huge air travel demand has not slowed down in North America, despite the steadily rising costs of flights, ground travel, hotel rooms and pretty much anything you can buy in an airport,” said Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power. “Most travelers are still enjoying the experience. However, we are starting to see a breaking point in consumer spending, with the average spend per person in the terminal declining significantly from a year ago.”

The annual study calculates traveler satisfaction with North American airports in seven categories. In order of importance, those categories are ease of travel through the airport; level of trust with the airport; terminal facilities; airport staff; departure/to airport experience; food, beverage and retail; and the experience arriving at and leaving the airport.

The full lists are posted below so you can see where your favorite ranks this year.

These Airports Offer Winning Customer Service

Airports,

Great airports not only make it easy to get from here to there, but they also make sure passengers enjoy the time they spend inside the terminals.

Which airports do it best?

That can be hard to measure. But the Air Service Quality Awards, handed out by Airports Council International (ACI) since 2006, do a good job of recognizing excellence in airport customer experience and in a variety of other categories.

To pick the winners, ACI and Amadeus, a travel technology company, interview travelers while they are in airports. The surveys include questions about wayfinding, check-in, shopping and dining offerings, as well as cleanliness, staffing, and other performance indicators.

The Winners

For 2022, 144 awards are being awarded to 75 airports around the world. Categories include Best Airports by size and region, as well as Airport with the Most Dedicated Staff, Easiest Airport Journey, Most Enjoyable Airport, and Cleanest Airport.

You can see the full list of winning airports here, but we’ve picked out some highlights.

Cleanest Airports

In North America, the cleanest airport awards go to Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM) in Alberta, Canada; Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, MN; and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina.

Most Enjoyable Airports

ACI says this award recognizes the top surveyed airports for their offerings (restaurants, shops, entertainment) and for their efforts to make the waiting time enjoyable and comfortable.

Fort MacMurray International Airport (YMM) and Gerald Ford International Airport (GRR) – winners in the cleanest airports category – picked up awards in this category as well, along with Willian Hobby Aiport (HOU) in Houston.

Best Airports

DFW ART in Terminal D

The Best Airport awards go to airports with the top 20% overall satisfaction score by size and region.

Here are the winners in North America:

Over 40 million passengers per year: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO);

25 to 40 million passengers: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport (MSP);

15 to 25 million passengers: San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC);

5 to 15 million passengers: Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE);

2 to 5 million passengers:

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP):

Under 2 million passengers: Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM).

World’s Best Airports for Customer Service

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When it comes time to go back to airports, it will be good to know which ones are doing a good job service and hygiene-wise.

Helpful clues come from Airport Service Quality Awards, given out by Airports Council International (ACI), which measures airports based on customer surveys.

The ASQ Awards are determined based on passenger feedback collected by the ACI program on the day that passengers travel. Each airport’s rating is based on 34 key performance indicators, such as access, check-in, security, stores and restaurants, and cleanliness of restrooms and overall facilities.

“ACI’s Airport Service Quality awards represent the highest possible accolade for airport operators around the world,” said ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira in a statement, “This year more than any other, the awards recognize those airports that have listened to their customers and adapted the services and experiences they offer to meet changing needs and expectations under very trying circumstances.

Based on new hygiene-related questions added to the survey questionnaire, ACI has a new award this year: ‘Best Hygiene Measures by Region.”

Here are the North American airport winners in that category:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport –
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

San Antonio International Airport –
Tampa International Airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport

Victoria International Airport, Canad

Here are the Airport Service Quality Awards won by airports in North America

Over 40 million passengers

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport

25 – 40 million passengers

Baltimore-Washington International Airport

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

15- 25 million passengers

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport 
Dallas Love Field Airport 

5-15 million passengers

Indianapolis International Airport 

John Glenn Columbus International Airport 

San Antonio International Airport 

2-5 million passengers

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport 

Portland International Jetport (Maine)

Less than 2 million passengers

Victoria International Airport – Victoria, Canada

Winners: World’s Best Airports for 2020

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Even if spending time in an airport was once your least favorite part of traveling, we bet standing in line to go through security is probably sounding pretty good.

And when the time comes to begin traveling again, we hope that adventure will begin or end in one of the winners from the 2020 Skytrax World Airport Awards.

To no one’s surprise, Singapore’s Changi Airport wins the award for the World’s Best Airport for the eighth consecutive year.

Already a four-terminal wonderland of shops, restaurants, gardens, wide-open spaces and fun activities, in 2019 Changi opened The Jewel.

The bonus addition connects three of the airport’s four terminals and is filled with more shops, restaurants, gardens and activities built around a circular 130-foot tall Rain Vortex that is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

Courtesy Changi Airport

Changi also won the award for the World’s Best Airport Leisure Amenities, ahead of South Korea’s Incheon Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Here’s the full list of the winners for World’s Top 10 Airports 2020:

  1. Singapore Changi Airport
  2. Tokyo Haneda Airport
  3. Hamad International Airport Doha
  4. Incheon International Airport
  5. Munich Airport
  6. Hong Kong International Airport
  7. Narita International Airport
  8. Central Japan International Airport
  9. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
  10. Kansai International Airport
Richmond, British Columbia on December 16, 2015. (BEN NELMS for YVR)

In the Best Airports in North America category, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) took the top spot, followed by Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Denver International Airport (DEN) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

No North American airport shows up on the 2020 list of winners for World’s Cleanest Airports (Tokyo’s Haneda Airport wins that category) or World’s Best Airport Dining (Narita International Airport in Tokyo wins there).

However, the Houston Airport System took first place in the World’s Best Website and Digital Services category.

See the full list of winners in all categories on the Skytrax World Airport Awards website.

Travelers not getting more airport satisfaction

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A new study out today finds that travelers are getting weary of battling the detours and delays caused by expansion projects at many airports.

According to the J.D. Power 2019 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, released today, overall passenger satisfaction with North American airports has risen only a single point (on a 1,000-point scale) year over year, following several years of steady improvement.

Satisfaction stagnates, but there’s hope

According to the report, the overall customer satisfaction score this year for North American airports is 762, up 1 point from 2018. The issue? Lower-than-average facility access scores, with larger numbers of travelers citing construction-related delays getting into and out of the airport.

But there’s hope. Airports that offer travelers relatively new facilities and improved security checkpoint experiences show up in this year’s study at the top of the list. And many airport construction projects around the country will soon be completed.

Take a look at the rankings:

In the mega category, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport ranks highest with a score of 786, followed by Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport at 779 and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and Orlando International Airport tied for third at 777. 

In the large category, Portland (Or.) International Airport ranks highest with a score of 833, followed by Dallas Love Field at 826 and Tampa International Airport at 822. 

And in the medium category, Indianapolis International Airport ranks highest a score of 833, followed by Jacksonville International Airport at 831 and Buffalo Niagara International Airport at 829. 

10 Best U.S. Airports. See if you agree.

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A new list of “best” airports it out. Let’s take a look.

A new list of “best” airports has come out. This one from our friends at Travel & Leisure as part of their 2019 World’s Best awards.

Topping the list: Portland International Airport – for the 7th year in a row.

Here are the other airports that made T+L’s Top 10 list of domestic airports this year. Let us know if you agree.

#2: Indianapolis International Airport.

#3: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

MSP’s award-winning restroom

#4: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport

#5: Tampa International Airport

#6: John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, California

#7 Pittsburgh International Airport

#8 Palm Beach International Airport

#9 Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

#10 Dallas Love Field

Congratulations to these airports. We love them all!

Is your favorite airport missing from the list? Let us know.

Best U.S. airport? Worst? Fodor’s has a list.

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There are lots of travel awards and “Best of” lists out there in travel.

And now Fodor’s Travel has come out with its own and airports, of course, are on the list.

“Airports are like living creatures – sprawling, complicated, chameleon-like things that are constantly expanding and renewing themselves,” said Jeremy Tarr, Fodor’s Travel editorial director, “What is today’s best airport can quickly become next year’s worst.”

This year’s list names California’s Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) – formerly the Bob Hope Airport – as the Best U.S. Airport, with nearby Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as the worst.

“Burbank is an airport free of most of the hassles that take the fun out of travel plans,” said Fodor’s managing editor Rachael Leavitt. “It’s an agreeable airport in a perfect location, which is why it’s at the top of our list of airports to love.”

LAX?

LAX Theme Building

Fodor’s gave LAX low points for how difficult it is to get in and out of, especially with several construction projects underway. “Ironically,” notes Fodor’s, “Most of the construction projects are for features that will ultimately improve getting around the infamous LAX ‘horseshoe’” roadway.

“One day the construction will end. And, one day, there will be a people-mover that will connect the yet-to-be-open Crenshaw Metro Line to the airport,” Tarr said. “But until then, LAX has earned a spot at the top of our Worst Airports list – and we’re loathing it.”

Here are the other airports that made Fodor’s list. Let me know if you agree:

Best International Airport: Singapore Changi Airport

Best Airport for Shopping: London Heathrow

Best Airport for Foodies: Newark-Liberty International Airport

Best Tiny Airport: Jackson Hole Airport – Wyoming   

Fodor’s also gave awards to airlines

Best US Airline: Delta

Best Int’l Airline: Emirates

Best airline for plus-sized passengers: Jet Blue

Best Budget ‘Bougie’ Experience: Norwegian

Best Airline for Blowing your Budget: Etihad

Best Airline for Flying with Pets: American

Tiny Airline You Should Try: Air Dolmoti (Runner up: Safari Link)

Best Airline for Foodies: JAL

Best Airline for Cocktail Connoisseurs: Japan Airlines

Best Airline for Getting Sleep: JetBlue’s Mint

Best Airline for Flying with Kids: Qatar

Airline with the Friendliest Staff: Southwest

World’s Best Airports for 2019. And the World’s Cleanest Airport.

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There are dozens of “Best Airports” lists that come out each year. Skytrax is one of the more notable lists that airports and, increasingly, passengers, pay attention to. That’s because the survey is based on extensive customer surveys and evaluates everything from check-in, arrivals and shopping to security and the experience at the gates.

Here are the Top 10 Airports for 2019.

  1. Singapore Changi Airport – winner for the 7th year in a row.
  2. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
  3. Incheon International Airport
  4. Hamad International Airport (Qatar)
  5. Hong Kong International Airport
  6. Chubu Centrair International Airport – (Nagoya, Japan; which recently opened a Seattle-themed 787 Dreamliner attraction)
  7. Munich Airport
  8. London Heathrow Airport
  9. Narita International Airport
  10. Zurich Airport

No U.S. airports made that top ten list, but on this list of the “bests” in other categories, Houston’s Bush International Airport won the inaugural award for World’s Best Website and Digital Services.

World’s Best Airport Dining : Hong Kong International Airport
World’s Best Airport Hotel : Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
World’s Best Airport Immigration Service : Hong Kong International Airport
World’s Best Airport Leisure Amenities : Changi Airport Singapore
World’s Best Airport Security Processing : Zurich Airport
World’s Best Airport Shopping : London Heathrow Airport
World’s Best Airport Staff : Narita International Airport
World’s Best Airport Terminal : T5, London Heathrow Airport
World’s Best Website & Digital Services : Houston Airports System
World’s Cleanest Airport : Tokyo Haneda Airport

Haneda Airport new International Terminal

A few other “Bests” of note:

Denver International Airport got the nod for Best Regional Airport in North America, while Vancouver International Airport took home the award for Best Airport in North America. And Seattle-Tacoma International Airport received the award for having the Best Airport Staff in North America.

See the full list of Skytrax 2019 awards here.

Best U.S. airports. Another celebratory list.

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When it comes to travel, there are plenty of lists that claim to rank the best (and worst) airports, airlines, hotels, loyalty programs, etc.

Some are created by experts in the field. Others are the results of surveys (some scientific, some not). And still other are created (somehow) by companies hoping to get their names mentioned in a story.

Conde Nast surveys it well-traveled readers to put together its long list of travel bests each year.

Here’s their Top Ten list of airports for 2018:

  1. Indianapolis International Airport
  2. Portland Oregon International Airport (PDX)
  3. Bradley International Airport (BDL)
  4. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
  5. Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  6. Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
  7. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  8. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  9. George  Bush International Airport (IAH)
  10. Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)

Any of your favorites on this list? Or any airports you think were robbed of a spot?