Efficiency is king: The best airports for business travelers in 2025
You’ll want to read this before your next trip. Our travel managers reveal that efficiency matters most to business travelers and which airports are getting it right.
We surveyed 100 travel managers at Corporate Traveler, across the U.S., to find out their favorite airports for business travelers in every category. They have industry experience, with an average tenure of eight years in corporate travel. The insights were illuminating, and we’re sharing their knowledge with you.
Information on the top airports for business travel can help you better prepare your travelers for each trip, with smoother connections, reduced friction, and overall traveler satisfaction.
The business traveler's top priority
Our network of U.S. travel managers, who collectively oversee 1.5 million client trips each year, provides a definitive look into what matters most for business travel. Travel managers have a clear expectation of efficiency that prioritizes seamless, productive travel experiences. Efficiency has become the ultimate measure of airport excellence. It powers business travel, letting travelers get more done in less time.
- 49.1% of respondents ranked efficient security screening as the single most important airport amenity.
- 64% said flight delays or cancelations are their top travel frustration at airports.
The gold standard: Reliability rules the runway
For maximum efficiency, America’s best airports are the ones that move people through smoothly and predictably. Travel managers ranked Atlanta, LaGuardia, and Boston among major U.S. airports as the most dependable and business-friendly hubs.
Atlanta remains the workhorse of U.S. business travel, balancing volume and reliability. LaGuardia, once a traveler’s headache, now ranks near the top thanks to its full terminal redesign. The passenger experience is everything!
Security and simplicity, with speed
When it comes to getting business travelers to their gates without delay, Boston Logan leads the nation. Its compact layout and modernization give it an edge over sprawling airport facilities.
Smaller airports and those with updated checkpoints are quietly outperforming larger competitors. It’s a clear lesson in how design affects business traveler satisfaction.
Easy access and inclusive airport design
Convenience doesn’t end at check-in. The most appreciated airports are those that minimize ground-time friction and serve every traveler well. Clear signage, direct routes between gates, and carefully placed elevators all make a difference is passenger experience.
- Most convenient airports: ATL (12%), BOS (11%), ORD (9%), DCA (9%).
- Most accessible airports: BOS (11%), LAX (11%), DEN (9%), LGA (9%).
Travel managers increasingly point to accessibility as part of the overall traveler experience. Airport facilities that prioritize clarity, assistance, and mobility are setting a new standard of care.
Comfort counts, but differently for business travel
Business travelers still value good food and quiet spaces, but not for luxury's sake. They want places to reset and recharge between meetings or a place of solace in the event of a delay. Great dining options or a relaxing lounge add bonus points for the most popular airports. Lounges now serve as productivity zones with reliable Wi-Fi and quiet seating.
The comeback story
Progress takes time, and these are the airports striving to continue to improve their traveler experience. Common key factors include infrastructure modernization, streamlined security processes, or enhanced traveler convenience. Airports have also benefited from improved overall airport design and a focus on efficiency and smooth passenger movement.
Let’s take a look at the airports that were rated most improved for business travel.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is also one of the world's busiest airports, in addition to receiving this rating.
LaGuardia: New Terminal B
LaGuardia Airport’s 1.3 million-square-foot Terminal B, which was opened in phases beginning in 2018 and completed in 2022, offers a modern travel experience with spacious interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a new 3,000-car parking garage.
Plus, it also has new covered and convenient pickup facilities for taxis and ride-sharing vehicles, dual skybridges above active taxiways, and a unique water feature.
Atlanta: Expansion projects to Terminal D and the Plane Train
Atlanta’s latest makeover expanded the concourse width from 60 ft to nearly 100 ft, raised the height by 18 ft, and extended its overall length to 288 ft, doubling the sizes of gates and restrooms.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is adding 63 new energy-efficient Plane Train cars as part of a $300 million upgrade to its transit system. The expansion includes a new turnaround tunnel beneath the domestic terminal, boosting capacity to 12,000 passengers per hour. Wait times between concourses will drop from 108 seconds to 90 seconds, with full implementation expected by early 2026.
Denver: Renovations to the great hall
The great hall project is intended to improve operations and passenger flow. The first two phases focused on building a new ticketing and check-in space for some airlines, as well as a new security checkpoint in the northwest corner of Level 6.
The completion phase, the final phase of the project currently underway, will complete the full build-out of the Jeppesen Terminal, getting it ready for future growth and critical infrastructure needs.
The best international airports for corporate travel
Beyond U.S. borders, efficient travel is still top of mind. The world’s top-ranked international airports — Singapore Changi, London Heathrow, and Amsterdam Schiphol — are setting the bar.
Singapore remains the global benchmark, leading the way with effortless movement, wellness spaces, and quiet efficiency. Tied for second place, Heathrow and Amsterdam show how modernization and connectivity can coexist at international airports.
Where efficiency meets experience
After security wait times, the next point of frustration for many international travelers is lineups at customs. Whether you’re hopping on a short international flight or taking connecting flights through one of the global hubs, you want a direct route. These are the best international airports for fast customs clearance. Singapore, London Heathrow, and Amsterdam all score top marks here, too.
The same airports that have fast customs (like London Heathrow and Singapore) also prioritize dining choices and lounges. Beyond the customs gate they continue to provide a quality experience for travelers at every step of their journey.
Airport accessibility and the best connections
International airports that top the efficiency rankings also lead in accessibility, reinforcing that thoughtful design benefits every business traveler. This is an important consideration for travel booking that can reduce stress on the business traveler, leading to fewer missed connections.
International airports on the rise
Airports in the Middle East are reshaping the long-haul experience, blending efficiency with hospitality for an emerging model of global business travel.
Travel managers identified Dubai and Doha as the fastest-rising international airports for U.S. travelers, thanks to expanding routes and premium service standards.
Dubai International Airport features an airport with luxury shopping, amazing lounges, 24-hour gaming, and even a swimming pool. Doha's Hamad International Airport is rising in popularity due to its modern architecture, a tropical garden, and an efficient layout. Amsterdam rounds out the list with massive size and unique features, like a museum.
What this means for your business travelers
The airport experience is the start and end of any long-distance trip, and it makes a big impact. For travel arrangers, it can often be an overlooked aspect of duty-of-care and employee satisfaction. By choosing travel hubs that prioritize efficiency you can boost employee well-being by reducing travel friction, reducing stress, and saving time. Three main pillars will define the best airports for business travelers in the future.
- Efficiency. Airports designed for smooth movement increase productivity and reduce stress.
- Accessibility. Modern design supports employee satisfaction and benefits productivity for travelers of all ages and abilities.
- Wellness. Expect more airports to integrate rest zones, fitness, and healthier dining. Employees value these everyday amenities when they’re away from their usual routines.
Our travel managers understand the ins and outs of every airport, and choosing the right airports to connect or fly into can make a huge difference. Why not set your travelers up with the best options to make their business trip as seamless as possible?