These US airports offer best experiences for travelers. See where Sacramento ranked
Planning a trip? Sacramento International Airport ranks among the best airports in North America for passenger satisfaction, according to J.D. Power.
The consumer analytics company recently released its the results of its 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, highlighting dozens of airports throughout the region that focus on customer service, top-tier terminal facilities and exceptional dining and drink options.
“Why do passengers love going to some airports and dread going to others?” J.D. Power asked. “Understanding what pleases the flying public and where their priorities lie are the first steps in creating an outstanding airport experience.”
The goal is to “shape the entire customer experience to be as easy, pleasant and rewarding as possible,” J.D. Power said.
Over the years, airports have “measurable gains in satisfaction,” Forbes reported in September.
“The biggest change in the past 25 years is the improvement to the airport industry’s food, beverage and retail offerings,” said Michael Taylor, J.D. Power’s senior managing director of travel, hospitality, retail and customer service, told Forbes. “We’ve gone from bare-bones coffee and quick-service restaurants to micro-branded coffee and local gourmet offerings at many airports across North America.”
Here’s what airports were ranked:
What makes Sacramento International Airport one of best in US?
Sacramento International Airport was No. 11 on J.D. Power’s list of the best large airports in North America, which it defined as airports that serve 10 to 32.9 million travelers a year.
The Sacramento airport served a record 13.8 million passengers over the course of the fiscal year that ended June 30.
Sacramento International Airport offers more than 150 daily direct flights on 12 airlines to about three dozen destinations in the United States, Mexico and Canada — with plans to add nonstop overnight service to Chicago, Baltimore, Orlando and Nashville, Tennessee, next year.
The Sacramento County Airport System, which operates Sacramento International Airport and three other local airports, said its mission is to “put people at the center of every trip, every experience, every day.”
In particular, the Sacramento airport prides itself on its “mouth-watering” dining options, with “exceptional fare from the region’s top culinary names,” including Cafeteria 15L and Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters.
As of September, Sacramento International Airport was undergoing $1.3 billion facelift that includes a new six-story garage with thousands of additional parking spaces just west of Terminal B.
Also in the works as part of the SMForward airport expansion project are a new pedestrian walkway, several new gates and a ground transportation center to the airport’s campus.
Where are the top 10 large airports in North America?
According to J.D. Power, these were the top 10 large airports in the United States and Canada in 2025, based on passenger satisfaction:
- 1. John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana
- 2. Tampa International Airport in Florida
- 3. Dallas Love Field
- 4. Kansas City International Airport
- 5. Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina
- 6. Portland International Airport in Portland
- 7. Nashville International Airport in Kentucky
- 8. Vancounter International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia
- 9. Salt Lake City International Airport
- 10. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
What are best ‘mega airports’ in US and Canada?
In its latest North America Airport Satisfaction Study, J.D. Power also identified the best “mega airports,” which it defined as serving 33 million or more passengers a year.
These major airports made the top 10:
- 1. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
- 2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
- 3. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona
- 4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- 5. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
- 6. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, tied with:
- 6. Orlando International Airport
- 8. Miami International Airport
- 9. San Francisco International Airport
- 10. Boston Logan International Airport
2 California airports ranked among top smaller airports
For those seeking a more intimate travel experience, J.D. Power picked the top medium-sized airports in North America, defined as those serving 4.5 to 9.9 million passengers annually.
Two California airports made the top 10:
- 1. Indianapolis International Airport
- 2. Ontario International Airport
- 3. Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York
- 4. Jacksonville International Airport in Florida
- 5. Palm Beach International Airport
- 6. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
- 7. Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers
- 8. Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut
- 9. Hollywood Burbank Airport
- 10. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport In Hebron, Kentucky
How did J.D. Power come up with airport rankings?
J.D. Power said it based its latest North America Airport Satisfaction Study on 30,439 surveys from U.S. or Canadian residents who traveled through at least one U.S. or Canadian airport in the past 30 days.
Passenger were asked about their experiences involving everything from airport accessibility and security checks to baggage claim and dining options.
The study was fielded from July 2024 to July.
Airport ratings were based on a 1,000-point scale and based on the following seven factors:
- Ease of travel through airport
- Level of trust with the airport
- Terminal facilities
- Airport staff
- Departure/to airport experience
- Food, beverage and retail
- Arrival airport experience.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "These US airports offer best experiences for travelers. See where Sacramento ranked."
