# Flyers are happier with U.S. airports, despite near record travel levels, J.D. Power report shows

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-16 11:40 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
Flyers express greater satisfaction with U.S. airports despite near record travel volumes, according to a J.D. Power report.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent reports from multiple news organizations detail findings from a J.D. Power evaluation concerning passenger satisfaction at U.S. airports. According to coverage from CNBC, travelers report higher levels of happiness regarding airport experiences even as the industry experiences near record travel levels. The findings encompass various rankings and placements for specific transportation hubs across the country, highlighting how flyers perceive different facilities during heavy operational periods. Specific regional outlets and national publications have focused on the performance of individual locations mentioned in the J.D.


USA Today reports that a Midwest airport earned the title of America's best according to flyer feedback, while azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic discussed the ranking and placement of Phoenix Sky Harbor. Additionally, NJ.com covered airports tied for last place in the ratings, including a facility situated on the East Coast. Meanwhile, the Post and Courier highlighted that Charleston’s airport secured the top spot for mid-sized airports in North America during its very first appearance in the evaluation. This trend emerges as the aviation sector navigates heavy passenger volumes that approach historical highs, bringing renewed focus to how infrastructure and services hold up under pressure. Power report serves as a benchmark for measuring public sentiment amidst high-traffic conditions, capturing shifts in traveler perception across large, medium, and small facilities throughout the United States.


While coverage outlines the top performers and the lowest-ranked hubs, broader operational challenges tied to the near record travel levels remain part of the ongoing industry landscape. As the data circulates, observers and travelers will look to subsequent travel periods and future J.D. Power indices to see whether passenger satisfaction remains resilient. Coverage does not yet specify what adjustments lowest-ranked facilities might implement in response to their standing, nor does it detail exact metrics beyond the overall satisfaction trend. Future reporting will likely monitor whether the high satisfaction levels persist as travel volumes continue to fluctuate across domestic terminals.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland.com | Cleveland Hopkins again ranks last among similarly-sized U.S. airports in J.D. Power survey | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiywFBVV95cUxPVEl2WUVYRXhzeFpxUy1iM1Jqd3lzbXc5MUN0c0pmLWxWd3ZFUFRTRVk0QlFRYWFOemNiVWF6RmJsVVB5aXp1VlF2N0xQaklsWTdDNGs5X01pTTd6bm5tTmcxWkNoUTJfS1dad2pPU1UtbWpiX2Rvc2VvUnlFR3k0YkpBUEJtU2JVX2U5RUxPV203bFA2VHhxOUVmdFNidEtpd05lX0dMd0V6WEV0Q1ZHNkRuVmFuSXVSaE5veXJpOF90Z3pLV0xxdXhMTdIB3wFBVV95cUxOaW1LZDdibHBsNDZHOFhySjdUMVVTX1RYV2tfWTU2dUhnakZDeV9ERDFnTk9mdDZ5TTZGSUVfTVNtdUlHck9rbjVmdG8tRDl5MzM2RENRdS14cDh4YmxxakpuaHBYZllMSW9zd1dsTk5DdTZUNlYyOW55ZWdjV0F1MTZGQUpSRFl) |
| TribLIVE.com | Pittsburgh International Airport improves in customer satisfaction study after new terminal opens | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxQNFpMa1V3MS1GWUpBWFVNZU5UWk1JQVRqdHlueTNJcXJHUFluU21ERDM0MDVrbXk0RkxsakR5amx1NXRIdHY1SGxjR1RuMVhjVEVKSWxyYl9qNDRhRFkwUkpnWEFwYnBuRHpmYmt3ZGM3RXpnSlNUYWpsLXc2d3JLZmV6bGQzSVppTHlsUktSTHRUNmdpVXM3NExKWjBJSW1jY1FqNU04T0lxdTAxempYaW1DV2xlUG5hT0R2UExtUzJUcEtrUnlJ?oc=5) |
| Tampa Bay Times | Tampa International ranks No. 1 among large airports in survey | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxNVlVibmxBdEQzMFpiakZXbkhjczRtcHV3UTlqVFJKeHAwU3d0eXRkQTVRYUpMb2t5RkxhUDlmYTFaQXhPVC1JaDZJaTdRSlE4UDJIdHpZR3ZnM1BtcDEyOFBraGQ3V2FnUm5wZkY5ZTgzOXJLNF9GUERzczVscHV5ZGtkWWdCZlg2R2FOeUtCXy1SOXpZ?oc=5) |
| azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic | Best US airports ranking is here. Where Phoenix Sky Harbor landed | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQZkNIcmV2WE43VXNlcHFhR2lXeWpOemVscTdzRE15QXdWRWFkYXRybG1hdGVXWTVVYndOOW1NNUxZMWpvNmM1OXVZcDNvT0FjVTZCQXQzRXAzR1A4S0xyU1dSdDRKT1EyWFlKdi14andhTE1fSlBJSkg0UGplaUR1NmVRV0RmXy0yOWJuWWEzYU10bUdEekpmS2kzOWJ1LVlJa09fLQ?oc=5) |
| NJ.com | These airports, including one on the East Coast, are tied for last place in latest JD Power ratings | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxOM0tNQkVISTBNbDR6Nzd4b0NWNXRCRjRId013S2ROSWV2QlJHYkI0Y2lCTnh1T3RlZGNkWkx5cUhxUVJpMGRXYm5Qb2l5ZFNqZUZFOU53dlZNdlo2aTVERzRHUE5CYjQ3SS1TSXMyYnY2SkFVTDJ1TDJkSHpGRVB0WllYVlZMY21MLUFZV01RcFg3dTM2SFdsMTNfYlRRQjNSZHVBNHM0UmNUVTRtZHZ2ZHltMXNBb1ZoN2lYYnM5WXA0cVhVRVo4UUUxVVVTYTTSAeMBQVVfeXFMTk15WHRWNmdlRWctWllVYkdhVmtrTTVzX0oxLWFMNkpVQUd0bUE2LUhkcHNnc0FSbGhFT0E5RU9FS056ekRuN1RvOTJYX3BINjZ3S0lmSFh6dnpIX2J2aGNwa1N2aUthQlJ1UlEyREJBQ255Nkx0YjVhLVpXOFZCTUNtX1F) |
| USA Today | This Midwest airport was named America's best, according to flyers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxPMnRrSmlYNWotcXNzLXdjNE1uTTJuMElkaU05Mk8yMks2MU9adnlYMWRwNGQ0UG1wekpRSlhWTDFpZzctS0RUS08wTmpUOHdhNDdEZm5mQ3ZPb0NqLUI5SmdYRE5kVUVzazNZTDBmY05DUFFVaHBibjktS3I2bnhTcFJ1OEs0ZTlaWW5KV1QybXRuSU1PQ1dVMmZOV3JBcUstenZkc0tYTXpGZ3JBd0w0?oc=5) |
| Post and Courier | Charleston’s airport named No.1 mid-sized airport in North America on its first try — Here’s why. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi3gFBVV95cUxObEtPcjA2cFI2LU1ZLTZDVTB1cXNLamVwdUZmQmNRQV9nWi16ZzFzNms2WmVmZlZiallVZGZlY3Q0MEk0Q0VyZU50UVhZbG5fRHdnNEhCY3NjVUM1SXFpV1NxQXJaTlNINnRVa3FUdHZ0QmNlN29rSi1kb0RhbGt4Q1paano1UVJraVN4Sm5NRGpleng2YWFqazUzRjFEeTdrYjMxSm1IZnV3dGNUOHJJc0xXRWx2ZDFHREJsTlJCLUtfVVVaSHQwWUs3UENfZTFOaV9lWnJTVU1pU2NOamc?oc=5) |
| CNBC | Flyers are happier with U.S. airports, despite near record travel levels, J.D. Power report shows | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiaEFVX3lxTE1WZnU5MzNRdUZxWmR4LXVjR2F3UWRLYzBmUFVWMHFXSnU3QlY5cUowVkUtYU1EMXhjRWxtNFdRYUN3anR3MFp6eGh3XzlFVzdwVndEQUxIZS1SLWxxYzRtWVMyME5Pc2xi0gFuQVVfeXFMTjRFQTZSVGZyVTg0OTFUMnRnM0ZSdERvMjl2U2MxUGRyMVNYdHBCMnp6d20zMjM0VzhVcmhfVGY5eVhLcExCelE1cmRZVmpqMUoxU3dkd2JZVnJDdTJPbGJCLTd4UzFpV1FacDRUNHc?oc=5) |

---
*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-16/flyers-are-happier-with-u-s-airports-despite-near-record-travel-levels-j-d*