Hopkins ranks last among midsize airports in survey

• Cleveland's 580 points (out of 1,000 total) was 45 points behind the next-to-last airport (Pittsburgh), and more than 100 points behind Indianapolis, the highest-ranked airport of its size.

Flashback: Last year, Hopkins ranked 13 out of 16 airports in the same survey.

State of play: The survey measured traveler satisfaction across seven categories:

• Ease of travel;
• Level of trust;
• Terminal facilities;
• Airport staff;
• Experience getting to the airport;
• Experience leaving the airport;
• Food, beverage and retail offerings.

The big picture: Record numbers of travelers are passing through airports in 2024. While JD Power says customers are largely enjoying their experience, satisfaction scores plummet when airports are perceived as too crowded.

• Look no further than Cleveland's torturous security lines.

The latest: In July, 991,693 guests passed through Hopkins — a 4.4% increase over the same month last year and a 2.2% increase over August 2019.

What's next: Next month, the shuttered airport Sheraton Hotel will be demolished to make way for additional parking.

• The $175 million first phase of a massive 10-year terminal modernization plan is slated to begin next year.