It might be time to book a trip.
J.D. Power revealed its rankings for the best and worst North American airports and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport was named the best in the mega airport category.
The rankings took the size of hubs into account and Tampa International Airport ranked the highest in the large airport segment. In the class of medium airports, Indianapolis International Airport flew high at number one.
John F. Kennedy International Airport came in at number 11 in the mega category, while Newark Liberty International Airport was named the worst, ranking last in the same category.
Last year, New York’s LaGuardia Airport ranked dead last, but thanks to improvements in terminal facilities, J.D. Power’s study ranked it number 15 in the large airport segment.
Along with Newark, the other worst airports in America were Philadelphia International Airport in the large segment and Kahului Airport on the Hawaiian island of Maui in the medium category.
The 2023 North America Airport Satisfaction Study took into account six factors to determine the rankings: terminal facilities, arrivals and departures, baggage claim, security check, check-in and baggage check, and shopping for food, beverage and retail.
Tampa International Airport’s Phoebe the Flamingo.Tampa International Airport
Conducted from August 2022 through July 2023, the study collected surveys from 27,147 U.S. or Canadian residents flying through American airports.
The data was collected during a time of chaos at U.S. airports, as the travel industry struggled with a pilot shortage, which led to canceled and delayed flights across the country, not to mention “record high passenger volumes” and “countless weather delays and cancellations.” The findings were collected before the deadly Maui wildfires.
In the class of medium airports, Indianapolis International Airport flew high at number one.Getty Images
In July, transportation experts said the influx of flight delays and cancellations could persist for over a decade due to ongoing staffing issues.
However, J.D. Powers said that “despite record passenger volume, crowded terminals and a barrage of delays and cancellations,” the survey found that “overall customer satisfaction” with airports in North America actually increased three points, taking into account terminal facilities, food and beverage and retail service and baggage claim.
John F. Kennedy International Airport ranked number 11 in the mega category.Getty Images
“It has not been an easy year for North American airports, but major capital improvements they’ve made over the last several years and new investments in getting food, beverage and retail operations back up and running at full capacity have helped them manage the crush of passengers,” Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power, said in a statement.
Taylor said that “airports are doing a good job coping with the current issues” but admitted there is “more they could do to improve passenger experience.”
Newark Liberty International Airport ranked last in the mega division.Getty Images
Plus, as Taylor noted, “happy passengers spend a lot more money at the airport.” The study found that those who ranked an airport a perfect 10 score spent $44 on average, compared to those who were disappointed with their hub and spent $29.
However, the results from J.D. Power’s survey differ from Travel and Leisure Magazine, which polled readers for their preferred airports last month. The publication ranked Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Manchester, New Hampshire as number one.
LaGuardia Airport saw improvement. After coming in dead last in the previous year’s study, J.D. Power’s study ranked it number 15 in the large airport segment.Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Mega airports (33 million or more passengers per year)
Large airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year)
Medium airports (4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year)
Source link: https://nypost.com/2023/09/20/these-are-the-top-3-airports-in-north-america-and-the-worst/