O Hare, Seattle Tacoma, Charlotte Douglas, Newark, Toronto Pearson Continue To Lag In Mega Airport Rankings Amid Ongoing Construction, Traffic Congestion, And Limited Accessibility

Published on September 18, 2025

O’Hare, Seattle–Tacoma, Charlotte Douglas, Newark, and Toronto Pearson proceed to lag successful mega airdrome rankings, struggling to meet rider expectations contempt ongoing upgrades. Travelers study persistent postulation congestion, incomplete building projects, and constricted accessibility arsenic awesome challenges. While improvements to terminals, dining, and unit person been implemented, these airports still look operational bottlenecks that impact wide traveler satisfaction.

Air recreation crossed North America still brings acquainted headaches—long waits astatine security, precocious departures, and jam-packed terminals. Yet a caller study suggests that travelers are becoming much satisfied pinch nan airdrome experience, moreover arsenic rider volumes soar to historical levels.

The 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study reported that mean restitution roseate to 619 points connected a 1,000-point scale, up 10 points from past year. This betterment was measured astatine nan aforesaid clip airports crossed nan United States processed unprecedented numbers of flyers during nan Labor Day weekend, erstwhile much than 10 cardinal passengers were screened by information checkpoints.

The affirmative results are mostly tied to upgraded dining, shopping, and terminal flow. For galore travelers, airports are progressively designed not only arsenic carrier hubs but besides arsenic spaces to eat, shop, and relax while waiting for flights.

Airport Rankings Across Categories

The yearly study divides airports into 3 categories based connected yearly rider counts:

• Mega airports – much than 33 cardinal travelers each year
• Large airports – 10 to 32.9 cardinal travelers annually
• Medium airports – 4.5 to 9.9 cardinal travelers per year

In nan mega airdrome group, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport continued to lead. Its people slipped somewhat compared pinch past year, but it remained nan apical performer owed to beardown accessibility, organized layouts, value facilities, and a wide assortment of restaurants and unit outlets.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport classed second, followed by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport successful third. John F. Kennedy International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport secured 4th and 5th place, respectively.

At nan bottommost of nan mega category, Newark Liberty International Airport remained past contempt a 13-point boost successful its score. Ongoing roadworthy congestion, unfinished infrastructure work, and constricted accessibility proceed to situation its performance.

Standouts Among Large and Medium Airports

The large airdrome category saw John Wayne Airport successful Orange County return first place. Many airports of this size recorded higher scores than past year, reflecting nan benefits of building projects that person modernized terminals and improved rider services.

Within nan medium airdrome group, Indianapolis International Airport erstwhile again secured nan apical spot. Its accordant attraction connected convenience, user-friendly facilities, and soft operations has kept it a traveler favourite for consecutive years.

Evolving Traveler Expectations

Celebrating its 20th year, nan study highlights really nan meaning of a “satisfying airport” has evolved. In nan past, travelers focused chiefly connected speed, reliability, and unit service. Today, eating and unit choices play a decisive domiciled successful shaping wide impressions.

Airports that showcase section cuisine and taste flavors consistently execute higher scores. By offering travelers a sensation of nan region, airports create a stronger consciousness of place, which tin raise restitution levels by astir 200 points.

The study drew connected feedback from 30,439 rider surveys conducted betwixt July 2024 and July 2025. Metrics included installation quality, unit and nutrient experiences, unit performance, terminal navigation, and some departure and presence processes.

Major Investments Reshape nan Passenger Experience

While immoderate starring airports reported mini people declines, nan broader image is positive. Large-scale airdrome redevelopment programs crossed North America—worth hundreds of billions of dollars—are opening to present clear benefits.

Though galore upgrades are still successful progress, improvements specified arsenic modern terminals, expanded nutrient courts, and amended navigation systems person already lifted rider satisfaction. Analysts foretell this upward inclination will proceed arsenic much projects scope completion.

Airports that harvester operational ratio pinch comfortable accommodation and a unique personality are now mounting nan gait for others successful nan region.

O’Hare, Seattle–Tacoma, Charlotte Douglas, Newark, and Toronto Pearson stay astatine nan bottommost of mega airdrome rankings owed to postulation congestion, ongoing construction, and constricted accessibility contempt upgrades to terminals, dining, and retail.

Top Five Mega Airports successful North America 2025

1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport – 660
2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – 649
3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – 634
4. John F. Kennedy International Airport – 620
5. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – 619

Bottom Five Mega Airports successful North America 2025

• O’Hare International Airport – 586
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport – 581
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – 583
• Toronto Pearson International Airport – 567
• Newark Liberty International Airport – 565