Top US Airports Ranking Revealed: Phoenix Sky Harbor's Position Unveiled

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Maintains Top Ranking in 2025 Airport Satisfaction Study

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has once again proven its excellence by securing the No. 3 position among mega airports in the 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power. This marks a consistent performance from the previous year, where it also ranked third. Mega airports are defined as those that handle 33 million or more passengers annually.

Despite challenges such as increased passenger traffic, flight disruptions, and rising costs, customer satisfaction at airports across the country saw an overall improvement in 2025. Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality, and retail at J.D. Power, highlighted this trend while noting that Sky Harbor's ranking reflects its strong operational foundation and reliability.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport retained its top spot for the second consecutive year, maintaining its position as the highest-ranked mega airport in the study.

How Was the 2025 Airport Ranking Conducted?

J.D. Power’s 2025 airport satisfaction study, its 20th edition, was based on 30,439 surveys completed by U.S. and Canadian residents who traveled through at least one airport in either country between July 2024 and July 2025. The research evaluated airports based on seven key categories:

• Ease of travel through the airport
• Level of trust with the airport
• Terminal facilities
• Airport staff
• Departure experience
• Food, beverage, and retail options
• Arrival experience

These criteria help provide a comprehensive view of the traveler’s overall experience.

Why Is Phoenix Sky Harbor Ranked Third?

Sky Harbor maintained its third-place position in 2025, which is a testament to its consistent performance. In 2024, it had already shown significant progress, moving up 10 spots from the previous year and achieving its best ranking since 2020, when it topped the survey.

According to Taylor, Sky Harbor outperformed the average in six of the seven categories, earning praise for its level of trust and accessibility. He noted that the airport has a strong reputation due to its reliable operations and efficient management. "Other than a few dust storms, you don't have a lot of adverse weather impacts from flying," he said. "They think the airport is calm. They think the airport is reliable."

While food, beverage, and retail options still lag behind other airports, travelers reported that these areas have seen improvements over the past few years.

Future Prospects for Phoenix Sky Harbor

Taylor believes that ongoing innovation and new initiatives could help Sky Harbor climb higher in future rankings. The last time the airport reached a higher position was in 2020 when it was ranked first.

What Phoenix Sky Harbor Says About Its 2025 Ranking

Sky Harbor continues to focus on enhancing the customer experience to support its vision of becoming "an extraordinary airport for a thriving Phoenix." Heather Shelbrack, a spokesperson for the airport, highlighted several upcoming projects and programs aimed at improving the traveler’s journey.

Infrastructure improvements include the ongoing construction of Taxiway U and a new concourse in Terminal 3. Additionally, new international routes are being introduced, including Aeromexico’s flights from Phoenix to Mexico City and China Airlines’ and Starlux’s services to Taipei. Expanded dining options, such as Tacos Chiwas, Garrett Popcorn, and SanTan Spirit House, are also part of the plan.

Shelbrack also emphasized Sky Harbor’s commitment to being "America's Friendliest Airport" through initiatives like Culture Corner activities in Terminal 3, Dementia-Friendly Travel Workshops, and the Navigator volunteer program, which includes therapy dogs known as Navigator Buddies.

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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who has covered travel and tourism since 2014. As a consumer travel reporter for The Arizona Republic, his work focuses on helping readers navigate the challenges of travel and get the most value from their vacations. He can be contacted at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com and followed on X (formerly Twitter) at @salerno_phx.

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