North America Airport Satisfaction Benchmark Study
Build Airport Experiences Passengers Actually Enjoy
The North America Airport Satisfaction Study measures passenger satisfaction with their airport experience across Mega, Large, Medium, and Canada segments. It provides actionable insights to help airport managers improve the passenger experience and airport operations.
What the Study Measures
A Complete View of Airport Passenger Experience
Passenger experience is measured across six core factors:
• Airport accessibility
• Check-in and baggage check
• Security check
• Food, beverage and retail
• Terminal facilities
• Baggage claim
• Overall satisfaction drivers
• Strengths and weaknesses by airport
Includes:
• Mega, Large, Medium, and Canada segments
• Multi-wave data releases
• Prioritized action plan
• PowerSource benchmark reporting
How the North America Airport Satisfaction Study Works
• Surveys passengers at airports across North America
• Segments airports into Mega, Large, Medium, and Canada
• Measures six factors of airport experience
• 2026 fielding begins July 2025
• Delivers four data publishes plus final results
• Final results and press release September 16, 2026
Core Strengths
Prioritize What Drives Airport Passenger Satisfaction
• Quantify factors driving North American air traveler satisfaction
• Establish relative importance of each factor
• Benchmark Mega, Large, and Medium airport performance
• Identify strengths and weaknesses for each airport
• Develop a prioritized action plan for improvement
Business Impact
Shape the Passenger Experience Across North America
• Prioritizes investment across Mega, Large, Medium, and Canada segments
• Strengthens six-factor performance from accessibility to baggage claim
• Grows non-aeronautical revenue through concessions and terminal satisfaction
• Differentiates your airport against peers with customized benchmarks
• Supports award licensing for top-performing North American airports
Key Dates
2026
Fielding Begins: July 2025
First Data Publish: December 3, 2025
Second Data Publish: March 4, 2026
Third Data Publish: June 3, 2026
Final Results and Press Release: September 16, 2026*Subject to change; updated on 03/18/2026
view all travel and hospitality study dates
Press Release & Award Information
JD Power issues national press releases highlighting key findings and top-to-bottom rankings from award-eligible studies. The brand(s) that rank highest in each award-eligible segment and meet predetermined award criteria will have the opportunity to enter into a licensing agreement through the JD Power Awards Program, which requires subscribing to the North America Airport Satisfaction Study as a prerequisite.
Brands Targeted to be Profiled
Profiled Brands
Mega
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) (Large segment for 2025 study; mega segment for 2026 study)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) (Mega segment for 2025 study; Canada segment for 2026 study)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport/Wold (MSP)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Updated 04/15/2026
Large
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) (Large segment for 2025 study; Canada segment for 2026 study)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) (Large segment for 2025 study; Canada segment for 2026 study)
Calgary International Airport (YYC) (Large segment for 2025 study; Canada segment for 2026 study)
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) (Medium segment for 2025 study; large segment for 2026 study)
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Oakland International Airport (OAK) (Updated to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport for 2026 study)
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport
San Jose Mineta International Airport
Updated 04/15/2026
Medium
Buffalo Niagara International Airport
Charleston International Airport (CHS) (2026 study only)
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) (Medium segment for 2025 study; Canada segment for 2026 study)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Kahului Airport (OGG)
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) (2025 study only)
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) (2025 study only)
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Updated 04/15/2026
Canada (2027 study only)
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Updated 04/15/2026
Designed for Airport Leaders
• Airport CEOs and general managers
• Customer experience and operations heads
• Concessions and retail strategy leaders
• Terminal facilities and planning teams
• Ground transportation managers
• Marketing and communications leaders
PowerSource
Insights Available at a Touch of a Button
Subscribers to this study have full access to benchmark reporting, competitor analysis, and more with PowerSource.
