Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Construction continues at LAX in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. LAX moved up a spot to 14th on the list of mega-sized airports, defined as those handling 33 million or more passengers per year.(Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Los Angeles International Airport, amid a mammoth construction boom in preparation for the 2028 Olympics, ranked 14th among mega-sized airports, according to an annual survey by JD Power of North America. That’s an improvement of one spot over last year.
Ontario International Airport, meanwhile, remained No. 2 for medium-sized airports. Hollywood Burbank Airport, came in fifth in the same zone, rising four spots from 2025. In Orange County, though, John Wayne Airport dropped 10 slots in the large airport rankings — the biggest tumble of all. (Long Beach and Van Nuys airports do not qualify for the rankings, which rate 24 larger airports in North America.)
LAX’s category in the high-profile survey is defined as those with 33 million or more passengers per year. JD Power said its 2026 study was based on 24,710 completed surveys from U.S. or Canadian residents who traveled through at least one U.S. or Canadian airport and covers departure and arrival experiences during the past 30 days. Passengers evaluated either a departing or arriving airport from their round-trip experience.
In 2018, Los Angeles officials planned an ambitious slate of 28 bus and rail projects to transform public transit. Some were scrapped but others moved forward, including the extension of a subway line to connect downtown Los Angeles with UCLA, the planned home of the Olympic Village, and the much ballyhooed Skylink system, formerly known as the Automated People Mover.
Overall, the program has grown into $30 billion in capital improvements to sweepingly improve access at LAX before 2028’s Olympic and Paralympic torches are lit. Improvements under way also include a new rental car center, upgrades to roadways and curbs and major improvements at terminals, including the Tom Bradley Terminal modernization.
Skylink, LAX’s long-awaited system to move travelers around terminals and transit stops at the sprawling complex, started running without passengers in April. It was initially targeted to be operational before fans arrived for the World Cup games at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium in June and July, but is still not welcoming travelers on board.
Construction on the people mover began in 2019 with an original target debut of 2023. The project has since been delayed multiple times due to technical challenges and disputes between Los Angeles World Airports and the contractor, LAX Integrated Express Solutions. It is now more than 99% complete, according to officials.
Those disputes have resulted in significant financial claims and contributed to delays in testing timelines. Officials said they remain hopeful outstanding issues can be resolved without further postponements.
Airport officials said the 2.25-mile electric train will operate on a full schedule until it opens for real. The trains will circulate through the airport’s central terminal area, linking terminals with parking facilities and pick-up and drop-off zones. The rail line’s six stations will be open to ticketed passengers, their guests and airport employees for free.
Meanwhile, Ontario International Airport remained second among medium-sized airports in the JD Power rankings.
“Being ranked No. 2 among North America’s medium-sized airports for the second consecutive year is a tremendous achievement, but what I’m most proud of is what sits behind that ranking,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. Medium-sized airports are those with 4.5 million to 9.9 million passengers annually.
ONT has completed more than $140 in capital improvement projects, which includes runway renovations, a repaved Airport Drive along the front of the airport from Haven Avenue to the Cucamonga Channel, replaced signage, and a new exit lane for the Transportation Security Administration. An additional $76 million is planned on other projects, according to an Ontario airport spokesman.
On Monday, Fred Saca was picking up his sister-in-law traveling from Israel in front of the Southwest terminal at ONT when his $60,000 BMW 530i got a flat tire in the tow-away zone.
Passengers outside baggage claim at Ontario International Airport on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked second in overall customer satisfaction among medium airports in North America in a J.D. Power study. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Fred Saca laughs as his car is towed at Ontario International Airport on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. Saca had nothing but positive remarks about the airport, which ranked second in overall customer satisfaction among medium airports in North America in J.D. Power’s 2026 study. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Passengers walk in and out of Ontario International Airport on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked second in overall customer satisfaction among medium airports in North America in a J.D. Power study. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Passengers outside baggage claim at Ontario International Airport on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked second in overall customer satisfaction among medium airports in North America in a J.D. Power study. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
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Passengers outside baggage claim at Ontario International Airport on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked second in overall customer satisfaction among medium airports in North America in a J.D. Power study. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Traffic guards helped calm a frantic Saca while a tow truck came to move his car away. “The airport is amazing,” said Saca.
“Safety is always first,” responded airport traffic cop Timothy Wilson.
Hollywood Burbank Airport jumped four positions from 2025 among medium-sized hubs.
Travelers arrive at Hollywood Burbank Airport on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. According to a recent study by JD Power of North America airports, Hollywood Burbank Airport ranked fifth this year, rising four spots from last year in its category for customer satisfaction. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A family arrives to travel from Hollywood Burbank Airport on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. According to a recent study by JD Power of North America airports, Hollywood Burbank Airport ranked fifth this year, rising four spots from last year in its category for customer satisfaction. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
An Alaska Airlines jet takes off from Hollywood Burbank Airport on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. According to a recent study by JD Power of North America airports, Hollywood Burbank Airport ranked fifth this year, rising four spots from last year in its category for customer satisfaction. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Travelers arrive at Hollywood Burbank Airport on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. According to a recent study by JD Power of North America airports, Hollywood Burbank Airport ranked fifth this year, rising four spots from last year in its category for customer satisfaction. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
“We are pleased to have made the top five, especially since we’re not known for having all the bells and whistles, but for being Southern California’s most convenient airport option,” a Hollywood Burbank Airport spokesman said. “We look forward to next year’s survey, once passengers have experienced our new terminal facility — set to open in October 2026.”
“Burbank Airport is more convenient than LAX,” said Dawnyetta Jones, who drove in from Lancaster. “Check-ins and arrival times are quicker. It’s a smaller airport so it’s easier to get to your terminals… LAX is busier and it’s a larger airport with longer walking times to get to your baggage claims and leave for home. For me, Burbank, is just way more efficient.”
Ralph Coca agreed. “It’s a lot easier for me to get to from Simi Valley than LAX. The flight schedules are pretty good for where I have to travel. The whole experience has been wonderful.”
Meanwhile, in Orange County, John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, honored in years past as one of the best large airports in North America, fell 10 spots from its previous No. 1 ranking in the large airport category. Large airports handle 10 million to 32.9 million passengers annually.
Traveler Duane Ferkovich was waiting for his Uber ride late Monday morning after arriving from Salt Lake City, on his way to a business meeting in Irvine.
“It takes them forever,” bemoaned Ferkovich, who flies into the airport routinely. He pointed to a long line of rideshare drivers on the upper deck of the airport’s parking lots. “It’s sometimes congested, with construction happening here, or a restroom is closed. I’ll have to walk to another concourse.”
Traveleres pick up their rideshaere rides at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Monday, September 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked 10th in overall customer satisfaction in a JD Power study. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Travelers walk between terminals at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Monday, September 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked 10th in overall customer satisfaction in a JD Power study. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Travelers leave John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Monday, September 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked 10th in overall customer satisfaction in a JD Power study. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Travelers arrive at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Monday, September 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked 10th in overall customer satisfaction in a JD Power study. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Traveleres pick up their rideshaere rides at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana on Monday, September 21, 2026. For 2026, the airport ranked 10th in overall customer satisfaction in a JD Power study. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Courtney Bush and Victoria Driscoll work in marketing and flew into the Santa Ana airport from John F. Kennedy International Airport. They too complained about rideshare drivers canceling on them three times outside the airport.
“I’m currently in an annoying state of mind as I’m hungry and want to check in with our hotel,” said a frustrated Bush who was on her first visit to Orange County.
Traffic along Airport Way leading into John Wayne was equally snarled, bumper to bumper for hours on Monday morning with valet parking in front of the terminals taking up space and rideshare drivers darting in and out of lanes.
JWA spokeswoman AnnaSophia Servin explained in a written statement to the Southern California News Group that the study covered July 2025 through July this year, as “multiple redevelopment construction projects were beginning to be implemented.”
JWA is in the middle of a $700 million capital improvement plan, which is likely fueling some traveler angst.
In recent years, the airport reconstructed and realigned taxiway A and rebuilt connector taxiways D and E to improve aircraft movement, safety and reduce delays.
In a video published on YouTube four months ago, Charlene Reynolds, JWA’s director, said the improvements are an “important investment in the future of the airport. “We appreciate your patience during construction and look forward to continuing to improve your airport experience,” she says on the video.
Servin said JWA is continuing to add improvements to its terminals, concessions, accessibility, signage, parking and other passenger amenities. “We recognize that passenger expectations continue to evolve, and we will continue listening to our guests and looking for opportunities to improve their experience,” she said.
This week, there were also travelers who appreciated the airport for all the problems it doesn’t have.
“I avoid LAX because of the traffic,” said Shane Eliason, who had arrived Monday at John Wayne from Salt Lake City. “It’s easy-peasy here.”
Arriving from Phoenix, Mike Evans stood in a line with 20 other travelers waiting for an Uber ride.
“It’s quick and easy to do,” said Evans, who also makes business trips to Orlando International Airport where it’s more difficult to get a ride with hundreds of rideshare drivers waiting in long lines. “You’re standing in line waiting for some guy to show up, and 10,000 people are looking for their driver. It’s crazy.”
Elsewhere in the state (all in the large airport category):
–Sacramento International Airport came in at 11th — the same as last year;
–San Jose International ranked 16th (down two spots);
–San Diego International Airport at 16th (down one spot), and ;
–Oakland International Airport at 20th — moved up a spot in the rankings.