![Travelers enter a TSA checkpoint Saturday. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com Officials have said security was heightened Saturday, Jan. 7, 2016 at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airpot in the days following an attack by a gunman at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport that left five people dead and six others wounded.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/TLTZ373J4APNDRN6IBCQXUT2IU.jpg?&w=1080)
Airports Council International on Monday came out with its list of airports ranking customer satisfaction, and Minneapolis-St. Paul International is right there on top.
It was named No. 1 in North America for airports serving 25 million to 40 million passengers a year, based on customer surveys compiled by the trade association of the world's airports.
ACI interviewed more than 600,000 travelers in 84 countries, asking about 34 performance indicators, including airport access, check-in, security screening, restrooms, stores and restaurants.
Brian Ryks, executive director and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates Minneapolis-St. Paul International, emphasized the importance of collaboration among the many businesses and organizations at the airport as the key to strong customer service.
Other U.S. airports receiving 2016 Airport Service Quality Awards included Indianapolis in the 5 million to 15 million category, Tampa in the 15 million to 25 million category and Dallas-Fort Worth in the over 40 million category.
More than 37.5 million people passed through the terminal at MSP in 2016.
Dallas-Ft. Worth's airport was named the best large airport in North America, serving more than 40 million passengers annually. Among the smaller North American winners: Tampa, Indianapolis and Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport.
Tim Harlow
