This Scenic Airport Was Just Named No. 1 in the U.S. for Its Punctual Flights, Traveler Experience, and Design

For the past 10 years, AirHelp, an online flight compensation service, has released its annual AirHelp Score to identify the world’s best airports. In its 2025 report, which ranked more than 200 airports worldwide, one place in the Beehive State came out on top.

Serving Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) was named the best airport in the U.S., and it ranked eighth place globally with an impressive score of 8.29 out of 10.

Salt Lake City International Airport’s strong performance can be attributed not only to its punctual flights—84 percent of which arrive on time—but also to recent infrastructure upgrades and a traveler-focused design. The airport’s new terminal, known as The New SLC, has been opening in phases since 2020 and is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Designed by architecture firm Hok, the £5 billion project replaces the outdated mid-20th-century terminals with a massive 909,000-square-foot central hub and two modern concourses, A and B. Currently offering 45 gates, The New SLC is set to more than double its capacity to 94. The terminal is bright and spacious, with 50-foot glass walls that flood the space with natural light and offer sweeping views of the Wasatch Mountains.

Travelers to Salt Lake City will find no shortage of things to do, from outdoor adventures to exploring its vibrant local neighborhoods. The city’s namesake lake, with its unusually high salinity, is a favorite spot for floating. Nearby, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons offer stunning scenery and hiking trails, while Ensign Peak rewards visitors with panoramic city views. In the heart of downtown, visitors can tour Temple Square, the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoy performances by the Tabernacle Choir.

Come winter, ski resorts in Park City and Alta deliver some of the best slopes in the world, plus the buzz of the Sundance Film Festival, all just a short drive away.

To compile the report, AirHelp analyzed millions of flight records, government statistics, and more than 13,500 airport reviews focused on airport staff, cleanliness, and wait times from 58 countries. While on-time performance carried the most weight in the rankings, accounting for 60 percent of the score, service quality and the availability of food and shopping options also played key roles, each comprising 20 percent.

To learn more about the methodology and see the full list, visit airhelp.com.