MSP Airport (MSP) was recently named the top airport in the Digital Airport Index (DAI) of North America by Mijksenaar, a global architectural and wayfinding design firm.
The index assesses a number of factors in ranking the digital assets of airports, including Wi-Fi connectivity, interactive maps, digital wayfinding, self-service automation and website features.
"Minneapolis−Saint Paul, previously in the middle of our rankings, has climbed to the top of the survey," noted Mijksenaar in its announcement of its 2021 ranking. "Congratulations, MSP!"
MSP was the only airport to receive a four-star rating from Mijksenaar. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) were all ranked in the No. 2 spot with 3.5-star ratings.
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which previously held the top spot, fell to No. 5 in the 2021 survey. MSP's overall Mijksenaar score was 71 percent – up from 63 percent in 2019 and the No. 2 spot.
MSP has invested heavily in recent years to upgrade its digital assets. Among the most visible recent improvements:
- The launch of Prebooked Parking at MSP Airport, which allows travelers to book parking before they fly and save $2 per day.
- Continued upgrades to our Wi-Fi connectivity that have led to significant improvements in MSP's Airport Service Quality scores.
- The launch of the MSP ASAP online ordering platform that allows travelers to order food and have it delivered to them. In April of this year, the service launched a rolling droid that delivers food.
Below are a few snippets of what Mijksenaar had to say in its report about MSP:
Connectivity
"We found that Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) has a free, unlimited Wi-Fi available in the terminal, a common courtesy of today. Of airports with similar passenger volumes, most of the others do not provide Wi-Fi that is both free and unlimited."
Online interactive map
"MSP, as with most other airports in this segment, has an interactive map available on the website. The map also supports routing, unlike many of the peer airports."
E-commerce
"Of the 50 airports surveyed, MSP was one of only seven airports that offers delivery of food or goods to the gate. In a post-pandemic world of touchless offerings, we expect this trend to continue."
Book and pay for parking online
"Booking and paying for parking online is not yet prevalent amongst North American airports. In the airports surveyed for the DAI, approximately only 40 percent offer either online booking or online payment. MSP offers both."
