22 Airports That Make Travel a Breeze

Beijing Daxing International Airport — Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com

None of us likes standing in an airport security line, fretting about whether we’ll get through it in time to make our flight. Fortunately, some airports make the process of getting to the gate a breeze.

The Airports Council International’s latest annual Airport Service Quality Awards honor airports around the world for the best customer experiences. The awards were based on nearly 700,000 surveys of travelers.

One of the awards honors airports that rank among the top 5% based on how easy it is for travelers to get through them. Following are those winners in North America and beyond.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Airport code: GRR

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

In 2009, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport completed a revamp of the terminal and parking areas. Needless to say, the improvements — including a 4,700-space parking garage and garage-to-terminal pedestrian bridges — have created a much better experience for travelers.

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

Airport code: GSP

Location: Greer, South Carolina, United States

The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has been open for business since 1962. It was the first airport to feature lights in the pavement of runways.

Prior to the construction of GSP, the region was served by two smaller airports, one in Greenville and another in Spartanburg.

Portland International Jetport

Airport code: PWM

Location: Portland, Maine, United States

The Portland International Jetport started as a small, private airstrip in the 1920s by Portland-native Dr. Clifford Strange, who later expanded and then sold it to the city of Portland in the late ’30s.

Today, it serves over 1.6 million passengers per year with a “vision for the future” and a 10-year capital program for improvements in “the latest technology, safety requirements, and projected growth” and more.