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Top 50 U.S. Airports: Sarasota Bradenton (SRQ) & Tampa International (TPA) Ranked Among the Best

| Suncoast Post Staff |

The Washington Post has released its latest ranking of the 50 best airports in the U.S., drawing on over 2,300 reader responses, more than 450,000 Yelp reviews, and extensive transportation metrics. Noteworthy discoveries:

  • Tampa International Airport (TPA) soared to #11, praised for its accessible layout, automated people-movers, and high-quality amenities. TPA handled around 24.8 million passengers in 2024 and operates the world’s first fully automated landside–airside people mover system.
  • Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) ranked #42, recognized for its streamlined design and growing traveler appeal. Serving over 4 million passengers in 2024, SRQ recently welcomed a new Concourse A and an observation deck featuring live ATC audio and a playground (opened January & March 2025).

🏆 Top 10 U.S. Airports (Washington Post Rankings)

  1. Portland International Airport (PDX) – hailed as a “nature bath” with timber skylights and lush interiors
  2. Long Beach Airport (LGB)
  3. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  4. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP)
  5. Seattle Paine Field (PAE)
  6. Rhode Island TF Green (PVD)
  7. Albuquerque Sunport (ABQ)
  8. Indianapolis International (IND)
  9. Salt Lake City International (SLC)
  10. Detroit Metro (DTW)

📊 Why Travelers Loved TPA & SRQ

According to WP’s methodology, priorities for top-ranked airports included:

  • Ease of getting to and navigating through the airport (via TransitTime and Mapbox data)
  • Light-filled architecture, spacious terminals
  • Minimally crowded gates, strong on-time performance
  • High Yelp ratings for dining & shops
  • Unique “cool” features (e.g., natural aesthetics or public amenities)

TPA Highlights:

  • Landside–Airside automated transit design
  • 4 airsides with 59 gates, each with food, shopping, outdoor patios
  • Top-tier satisfaction historically (Zagat, Condé Nast, JD Power)

SRQ Highlights:

  • Increased passenger load—over 4.2 million in 2024
  • Recent facility upgrades: Concourse A, observation deck with playground and public ATC audio
  • Small‑hub status with 18 gates across 2 concourses

🌴 Other Florida Airports in the Top 50

  • Palm Beach International (PBI) – #27
  • Jacksonville International (JAX) – #30

🔗 Related Links & Resources

✈️ Final Take

Florida continues to shine in airport rankings, with TPA achieving top‑tier status thanks to its ease and ambience, and SRQ earning strong marks for efficiency and recent enhancements. Travelers clearly value design, convenience, and local charm over sheer size. And remarkably, smaller airports often outperform the massive hubs in passenger satisfaction.

Photo from Deposit Photos

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