Tampa International Airport finished second in J.D. Power’s 2017 North American Airport Satisfaction Study of large airports, finishing just one point behind John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
The survey measures overall traveler satisfaction by examining six factors (in order of importance): terminal facilities; airport accessibility; security check; baggage claim; check-in/baggage check; food, beverage and retail.
The study is based on responses from 34,695 North American travelers who traveled through at least one domestic airport with both departure and arrival experiences (including connecting airports) during the past three months. Travelers evaluated either a departing or arriving airport from their round-trip experience. The study was fielded from January through August 2017.
Rounding out the top five in the large airport category survey was Dallas’ Love Field, Nashville International Airport and Portland International Airport.
Earlier this year Tampa International was named North America’s top airport for airports serving 15 to 25 million passengers by Airports Council International. TPA was named second-best for North American airports larger than 2 million annual passengers in the same survey.
The airport is in the middle of a huge, multiyear expansion to accommodate growth in the number of passengers and new domestic and international destinations. It’s the first major renovation to the airport since the terminal was built in 1971. Phase 1 of the master plan includes a new 2.6 million-square-foot rental car facility and a new people mover train, which will connect passengers from the rental car area and economy parking garage to the main terminal. It is expected to be up and running by next year.
J.D. Power breaks down its survey of North American airports into three separate categories: mega, large and medium. Coming out tops in the mega airports category was Orlando International Airport.
