(WJET/WFXP/KRQE) – Roughly a billion passengers make their way through airports across the United States each year — but some of them are having a better experience than others. The results of J.D. Power and Associates' "North American Airport Satisfaction Study" were released this week, revealing the top-rated airports in the U.S. and Canada (but no other North American countries) in terms of passenger experience. Seven criteria were considered: "ease of travel through airport; level of trust with airport; terminal facilities; airport staff; departure/to airport experience; food, beverage and retail; and arrival/from airport experience," according to J.D. Power. Airports were also divided into three categories by passenger volume: medium airports (4.5M to 9.9M passengers per year), large airports (10M-32.9M passengers per year), and "mega" airports (33M + passengers per year). The Albuquerque International Sunport made the passenger satisfaction list. TSA weighs in on TikTok’s ‘airport tray aesthetic’ trend Overall, J.D. Power found that most passengers (60%) at least "somewhat" enjoyed their airport experience over the survey period (August 2023 through July 2024), despite traffic and rising airfare prices. “Most travelers are still enjoying the experience," said Michael Taylor, the managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power, in Wednesday's press release. "However, we are starting to see a breaking point in consumer spending, with average spend per person in the terminal declining significantly from a year ago.” At the top of the rankings in each category were the Indianapolis International Airport (medium), the John Wayne Airport in California's Orange County (large) and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (mega). New Mexico was ranked in the 'Medium Airport' category at number 12. An abbreviated list of the top airports for each category, with scores based on a 1,000 point scale, is below. A full list is available at the official J.D. Power website. Medium Airports Indianapolis International Airport (687) Jacksonville International Airport (686) Southwest Florida International Airport (675) Ontario International Airport (672) Buffalo Niagara International Airport (670) Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (669) Palm Beach International Airport (669) Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (668) John Glenn Columbus International Airport (658) Bradley International Airport (654) Eppley Airfield (653) Albuquerque International Sunport (646) Large Airports John Wayne Airport, Orange County [California] (687) Tampa International Airport (685) Kansas City International Airport (683) Dallas Love Field (675) Nashville International Airport (668) Mega Airports Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (671) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (643) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (633) John F. Kennedy International Airport [New York City] (628) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (623) Other key findings from the study indicate that passengers are spending slightly less on food and beverages than they did over the last study period, and that they rate airports higher when they feel the facility incorporates " unique décor, signage, stores and restaurants" inspired by the city or region in which the airport operates. What are ‘cat eyes’? TSA issues warning over uptick in passengers carrying prohibited item to checkpoints J.D. Power and Associates, a market research firm, has conducted its North American Airport Satisfaction Study for 19 years. The study surveyed a total of 26,290 passengers who had traveled through an American or Canadian airport within the previous month.