Washington Post ranked the 50 best airports in the country. Was Nashville International Airport left at the gate?
Long security lines, confusing layouts, and overcrowded terminals — traveling through airports comes with a myriad of qualms. But some have taken off in traveler satisfaction, giving them a first class ranking.
The Washington Post released its list of the 50 best airports in the United States on June 26, revealing fliers’ preferred air travel hubs.
Landing in the No. 1 spot was Portland International Airport, which boasts a 22-seat microcinema showing short works by Pacific Northwest artists. Trailing close behind were Long Beach Airport, beloved for its 1941 historic terminal, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, known for its frequent sightings of political figures.
Notably missing from the Post’s list is Nashville International Airport, the largest airport in Tennessee and one that’s poured $4.49 billion into expansion over the last eight years.
BNA’s improved roadways, two-year-old international arrivals facility, brand new Concourse D, on-site Hilton hotel, local concessions options and recent influx of airlines like Aer Lingus and Icelandair seemingly weren’t enough to land a top spot among the best.
Here's a closer look at the rankings and why BNA was left at the gate.
The Washington Post ranked these airports as the top 10 in the United States
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Long Beach Airport (LGB)
- Ronald Eeagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
- Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
Despite growth, BNA lands below Washington Post’s best airports list
The Nashville airport is putting billions of dollars toward accommodating the rapid growth in daily passenger numbers the institution has seen since the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.
In fiscal year 2021, daily passenger numbers fell to 28,000, and by the end of 2025, BNA expects to serve an average of 70,000 passengers per day. That translates to 25.3 million passengers for the year.
Metro Nashville Airport Authority President and CEO Doug Kreulen told The Tennessean in 2018 that the goal is to “transform BNA into a world-class airport,” a point he reiterated again in 2024.
The new Concourse D will have 11 gates in total at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. The construction of Concourse D will finish by spring of 2025.
But according to the Post and its recent omission, BNA still has a ways to go.
According to The Washington Post’s analysis, BNA, which is rated 3.5 stars on Yelp, scored 79% for on-time flights and logged 5,000 complaints. The airport received just nine reader nominations. Many Yelp users cite issues such as long TSA lines, traffic congestion and limited seating throughout.
Methodology
In order to determine the best airports in the U.S., The Washington Post analyzed data from more than 450 airports with at least 1,000 passenger departures in 2024.
Drawing on feedback from over 2,300 readers, the team identified key factors that define a beloved airport and weighted them accordingly. After narrowing the list to the top 50, they considered less tangible qualities, such as ease of navigation and on-time flights, to finalize the rankings.
Reader nominations played a major role in the scoring, though adjustments were made to prevent bias toward regions with more Post readers.
To assess accessibility, the team used TravelTime to calculate public transit times and Mapbox to evaluate driving distances and parking availability. For ease of navigation, they examined gate-to-passenger ratios, TSA complaints, and the percentage of empty seats per flight, an indicator of terminal crowding.
Yelp data helped measure both the quantity and quality of five-star-rated food and retail options. On-time performance was calculated using Cirium and although not a top reader priority, it served as a useful tiebreaker.
Finally, the team factored in the “cool” elements frequently mentioned in nominations, such as unique features, standout terminals, and even restrooms with fresh flowers, drawing from both reader input and independent research to highlight what makes each airport stand out.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Washington Post ranked the 50 best airports in the country. Was Nashville International Airport left at the gate?
