Travel + Leisure readers rank MSP top U.S. airport in 2024

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) was named the No. 1 U.S. airport in the 2024 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, which were announced July 9.

The World’s Best Awards are based on hundreds of thousands of surveys from Travel + Leisure readers ranking airports, hotels, resorts and other sectors that define standards of excellence in travel and hospitality. MSP’s ranking jumped to the top spot from fourth place in last year’s World’s Best Awards survey.

Airports were rated in multiple categories, including access, check-in and security, restaurants and bars, shopping, and design.

“The best accolades are those that come directly from customers and travelers, so it’s an honor for MSP to be recognized by Travel + Leisure readers for industry excellence,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which owns and operates MSP. “Our many partners across the airport community are focused on delivering best-in-class service, creating accessible facilities, offering a refreshing mix of shops and restaurants, and — most of all — providing exceptional airport experiences for our travelers.”

MSP served nearly 35 million passengers in 2023 and is the second largest hub for Delta Air Lines, as well as the hometown base for Sun Country Airlines. Travel + Leisure wrote that MSP manages the flow of passengers well.

"This is, by far, my favorite airport in the country. It’s easy to figure out, easy to get around, and there are a lot of interesting shops and decent restaurants," wrote one Travel + Leisure voter.

The 2024 World’s Best Awards are featured in the August 2024 issue of Travel + Leisure. 

MSP is the 19th busiest commercial airport in North America. Earlier this year, MSP won top global and large airport awards in Cirium’s 2023 On-Time Performance Review. Airports Council International (ACI) also named MSP as the best airport in North America in 2023 through its global passenger survey program, in the 25-40 million passenger category. That recognition marked the third straight year — and seventh out of the last eight years — that MSP received the Airport Service Quality program title.