MSP named best airport in N. America for third consecutive year
Airports Council International (ACI) this week named Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) the Best Airport in North America in its size category in 2018, along with Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
The award follows MSP receiving the same recognition in 2016 and 2017. Each year, MSP earned the highest score among North American airports serving 25 million to 40 million passengers per year. The score stems from ACI’s ranking of the world’s airports by region and size category based on customer surveys.
Airport Service Quality (ASQ) is the only industry award based on research actually gathered at airports, using information provided by travelers rating their satisfaction on the day of travel. Survey questions cover everything from airport access to check-in, security screening, restrooms, stores, restaurants and more.
Unlike in previous years, Best Airport Awards for 2018 went to the top-scoring 20 percent of airports in each geographic and airport size category. Based on the new rules, MSP shares the award this year with Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
“The Airport Service Quality Awards celebrate the achievements of airports in delivering the best customer experience, and they represent the highest possible accolade for airport operators around the world,” said ACI World Director General Angela Gittens.
“MSP Airport’s consistently high ranking underscores the effective public-private partnerships at the airport and the airport community’s shared commitment to providing the best experience possible for travelers,” said Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) CEO Brian Ryks. “I want to thank all our airport partners for their continued commitment to making MSP Airport second to none.”
MSP frequently wins awards for its food and retail concessions, management, engineering and construction, customer choice and environmental stewardship. In 2019 alone, USA Today named MSP the Best Airport for Dining and 2nd Best Airport for Shopping, and Airport Experience News recognized the MAC for the Best Concessions Management Team. A number of MSP restaurants, bars and retail outlets also brought home Airport Experience News awards.
Delta Air Lines’ second largest hub, MSP is served by 16 airlines, with a 17th -- Aer Lingus -- beginning service at MSP in July.
Airlines at MSP offer service to 167 nonstop destinations, including competitive service on a record 60 routes. In 2018, a record 38 million people flew through MSP.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates an airport system that includes Minneapolis-St Paul International and six general aviation airports. One of the nation’s largest airport systems, the MAC delivers more than $16.7 billion annually for the local economy and supports more than 90,000 jobs in the region. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to the more than 38 million passengers from around the globe who arrive or depart through MSP each year. Though a public corporation of the state of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit www.metroairports.org.