- Top Complaint Airports Newark Liberty International and JFK International lead the list for the highest number of passenger complaints per 100,000 travelers.
- Florida’s Airport Presence Several Florida airports, including Orlando, Fort Myers, Miami, and Tampa, are noted for their high complaint rates.
- Contributing Factors Common issues driving complaints include delays, congestion, outdated infrastructure, staffing shortages, and high passenger volumes.
- Increased Traveler Expectations Post-pandemic travelers are less tolerant of disruptions, leading to a rise in reported complaints across many airports.
A recent study by Transfeero, an airport transfer expert, analyzed TSA complaint data for the 50 largest US airports, providing insights into passenger experiences. The findings, based on complaints per 100,000 travelers, indicate that some airports generate more dissatisfaction than others due to various operational factors.
Newark Liberty International Airport leads the list with 10.26 complaints per 100,000 travelers, stemming from congestion, weather delays, and an aging infrastructure. John F. Kennedy International Airport follows, with 9.75 complaints per 100,000 passengers, attributed to long security lines, frequent flight delays, and ongoing construction. Both airports serve the busy New York metropolitan area, and their high complaint rates reflect challenges common in major international hubs.
The state of Florida has several airports in the top 10 for complaints, including Orlando International, Southwest Florida International (Fort Myers), Miami International, and Tampa International. Orlando’s high volume of family travelers and tourists often leads to logistical issues, especially during peak seasons. Smaller airports like Southwest Florida International and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International also report proportionally high complaint levels, suggesting that airport size does not solely determine passenger satisfaction. Issues such as staffing shortages, limited amenities, and demand surges during peak events contribute to these figures.
Other notable airports with elevated complaint rates include Boston Logan International, Raleigh-Durham International, and Philadelphia International. These airports face challenges like severe weather conditions, rapid growth outpacing infrastructure, and operational bottlenecks due to their roles as connecting hubs. The study suggests that post-pandemic travelers have increased expectations for service and efficiency, leading to a higher propensity to file complaints when issues arise, further influenced by factors such as staffing levels and flight scheduling.
Full list of airports with the most complaints in the US:
| Rank | Airport | Code | Complaints per 100,000 passengers |
| 1 | Newark, NJ (Newark Liberty International) | EWR | 10.26 |
| 2 | New York, NY (John F. Kennedy International) | JFK | 9.75 |
| 3 | Orlando, FL (oops) (Orlando International) | MCO | 9.61 |
| 4 | Boston, MA (Logan International) | BOS | 9.32 |
| 5 | Fort Myers, FL (Southwest Florida International) | RSW | 9.09 |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International) | MSY | 8.89 |
| 7 | Raleigh/Durham, NC (Raleigh-Durham International) | RDU | 8.16 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia International) | PHL | 8.07 |
| 9 | Miami, FL (Miami International) | MIA | 7.94 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL (Tampa International) | TPA | 7.92 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH (Port Columbus International) | CMH | 7.84 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH (Cleveland-Hopkins International) | CLE | 7.72 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI (Detroit Metro Wayne County) | DTW | 7.42 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD (Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall) | BWI | 7.31 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA (Pittsburgh International) | PIT | 7.28 |
| 16 | New York, NY (LaGuardia) | LGA | 7.27 |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV (McCarran International) | LAS | 7.17 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International) | ATL | 7.00 |
| 19 | Houston, TX (George Bush Intercontinental/Houston) | IAH | 6.90 |
| 20 | Houston, TX (William P Hobby) | HOU | 6.90 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA (Seattle/Tacoma International) | SEA | 6.72 |
| 22 | Salt Lake City, UT (Salt Lake City International) | SLC | 6.64 |
| 23 | Fort Lauderdale, FL (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International) | FLL | 6.52 |
| 24 | Washington, DC (Ronald Reagan Washington National) | DCA | 6.51 |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ (Phoenix Sky Harbor International) | PHX | 6.23 |
| 26 | Austin, TX (Austin – Bergstrom International) | AUS | 6.14 |
| 27 | Chicago, IL (Chicago Midway International) | MDW | 6.09 |
| 28 | Portland, OR (Portland International) | PDX | 6.07 |
| 29 | Santa Ana, CA (John Wayne Airport-Orange County) | SNA | 6.05 |
| 30 | Indianapolis, IN (Indianapolis International) | IND | 5.96 |
| 31 | San Juan, PR (Luis Munoz Marin International) | SJU | 5.75 |
| 32 | Honolulu, HI (Honolulu International) | HNL | 5.68 |
| 33 | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (Dallas/Fort Worth International) | DFW | 5.63 |
| 34 | Oakland, CA (Metropolitan Oakland International) | OAK | 5.59 |
| 35 | St. Louis, MO (Lambert-St. Louis International) | STL | 5.55 |
| 36 | Sacramento, CA (Sacramento International) | SMF | 5.49 |
| 37 | San Antonio, TX (San Antonio International) | SAT | 5.49 |
| 38 | San Diego, CA (San Diego International) | SAN | 5.46 |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International) | CVG | 5.36 |
| 40 | Dallas, TX (Dallas Love Field) | DAL | 5.02 |
| 41 | Denver, CO (Denver International) | DEN | 4.84 |
| 42 | Washington, DC (Washington Dulles International) | IAD | 4.69 |
| 43 | Nashville, TN (Nashville International) | BNA | 4.55 |
| 44 | Chicago, IL (Chicago O’Hare International) | ORD | 4.20 |
| 45 | San Jose, CA (Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International) | SJC | 4.11 |
| 46 | Minneapolis, MN (Minneapolis-St Paul International) | MSP | 4.00 |
| 47 | Charlotte, NC (Charlotte Douglas International) | CLT | 3.94 |
| 48 | San Francisco, CA (San Francisco International) | SFO | 3.94 |
| 49 | Kansas City, MO (Kansas City International) | MCI | 3.80 |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles International) | LAX | 3.41 |