These are the best and worst airports in the United States, according to a new report
Newark Liberty in New Jersey ranked as the worst, while Salt Lake City Airport in Utah ranked first
Millions of people travel every year, and most of them have to navigate airports to reach their destinations. The quality of that experience can vary greatly from one airport to another.
A new report from AirHelp sheds light on how U.S. airports performed, ranking 250 airports worldwide in its 2025 AirHelp Score.
The organization evaluated airports based on on-time performance during one year (June 1 of last year through May 31 of this year). It also considered traveler satisfaction, including opinions about the food and shopping available.
"Our goal with the AirHelp Score is to use data to give travelers an in-depth look at airport performance and help guide their flight booking decisions," said AirHelp CEO Tomasz Pawliszyn. "It is the passengers’ experience that is the most important here."
The Worst-Ranked U.S. Airports
According to the AirHelp Score, these were the lowest-performing airports in the United States:
Newark Liberty International Airport
Of the 34 U.S. airports in the ranking, Newark Liberty received the lowest score, 7.25. The airport handles tens of millions of passengers each year—48.9 million in 2024, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Scoring 7.38, this South Florida airport ranked as the second-worst in the country.
Philadelphia International Airport
With a score of 7.41, Philadelphia International landed at 32nd among U.S. airports and 188th globally.
The Best-Ranked U.S. Airports
Meanwhile, these U.S. airports earned the highest AirHelp Scores:
Salt Lake City International Airport
Utah’s main airport topped the U.S. list for the second year in a row with a score of 8.29. The airport celebrated on social media, saying, "People say sequels can’t top the original… But SLC is back and better than ever!"
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX earned an overall score of 8.09. Its subcategory scores included 8.1 for on-time performance and 8.4 for food and shopping.
Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Just behind LAX, MSP scored 8.07 overall.
The World’s Best Airport for 2025
Globally, Cape Town International Airport in South Africa claimed the top spot with an overall score of 8.57. The airport called the ranking a "proud moment for South Africa and our country’s airport networks" in a social media post.