Passenger Growth Elevates RDU from Medium to Large Airport Category

Record-setting passenger growth elevated Raleigh-Durham International Airport from a medium to large airport in a 2019 J.D. Power study of North American airports. The North Carolina airport ranked fifth, in passenger satisfaction in its new category.

“We are thrilled that passengers consider RDU one of the top five best large airports in North America,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “We strive to provide a world-class airport experience and we are continuing to upgrade our facilities and amenities to make traveling through RDU even easier and more welcoming.”

RDU’s 2019 J.D. Power ranking reflects a strong improvement over last year, when the airport ranked 11th among medium-sized airports.

The annual J.D. Power North American Airport Satisfaction Study ranks airport customer satisfaction in the following categories:

  • Airport Accessibility (getting to and leaving the airport)
  • Check-In/Baggage Check
  • Security Check
  • Food, Beverage and Retail
  • Terminal Facilities (concourses, lounges, signage, restrooms, and gate areas)
  • Baggage Claim
  • Immigration/Customs

J.D. Power categorizes North American airports according to annual passenger volume:

Mega: 32 million or more passengers per year

Large: 10 to 31.5 million passengers per year

Medium: 4 to 9.9 million passengers a year

In 2018, 12.8 million passengers traveled through RDU, an eight percent increase over the previous year. The airport expects to serve more than 14 million travelers in 2019. According to the FAA, RDU is the 39th largest airport in the U.S. by passenger volume.

Read the J.D. Power press release here.