We’re coming up on peak holiday flying season. It’s with disbelief, consternation and even dread that we realize the year is almost gone, we won’t achieve our New Year’s resolutions (again) and we must make myriad airline reservations for myriad people for myriad far-flung holiday festivities.
“Los Angeles area airports,” we type into myriad search engines, staring blankly at the choices.
SoCal residents have many more choices than most. There’s the gargantuan LAX, where you can nab direct flights all over the world. The large John Wayne Airport, with those thrillingly steep ascents but often steeper prices. There’s the medium-sized Hollywood Burbank, little Ontario and littler Palm Springs and Long Beach, a charming time machine back to 1955.
Spoiler alert: No SoCal airport emerged as No. 1 in its category on the annual North America Airport Satisfaction Study by consumer data firm J.D. Power. But they’re doing better.
The survey measures overall traveler satisfaction with terminal facilities, arrivals/departures, baggage claim, the security experience, check-in/baggage check and food, beverage and retail choices. It slices them into mega (including LAX), large (John Wayne) and medium (Hollywood/Burbank) categories.
So how’d they do? Drum roll, please:
• In 2021, LAX ranked 15th among North America’s 20 mega airports. In 2022, it dropped to 18th. This year, it climbed up to 14th. So it’s getting better, even as construction erupts all around.
• In 2021, with the pandemic raging, there wasn’t enough sample to rank John Wayne. But Orange County’s airport won the silver medal in 2022 and 2023, holding on to second place among all 27 large airports. Nearby San Diego International trailed way behind at No. 23.
• In 2021, there was not enough sample to rank Hollywood/Burbank either. But in 2022, it ranked last among North America’s medium-sized airports, climbing to second-to-last place this year.
Passenger loads at…
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