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Travel website ranks San Diego International as best airport in the US

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Posted at 1:18 PM, Aug 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-07 16:18:28-04

(KGTV) — San Diego's airport is considered the best in the nation, according to a recent study released by travel website The Points Guy.

San Diego International Airport took the top spot on the website's annual "Best and Worst US Airports" analysis of the 50 busiest airports in America.

Looking at delay times, commute, and amenities, the website considered San Diego the best thanks to its, "healthy dose of amenities, superior record of on-time flights and incredibly convenient location."

San Diego Airport's 30-plus dining options, including favorites like Stone Brewing, Pannikin Coffee & Tea, and Phil's BBQ, boosted the location past last year's winner, Phoenix Sky Harbor, which was hit with a runway closing between January and February last year.

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According to the FAA's latest data from 2017, San Diego International's average gate arrival delay was 3.7 minutes over an average of 807 flights in and out of the airport daily. In 2016, the FAA held San Diego as the 27th busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic with more than 20.7 million.

Upon the ranking, San Diego Airport tweeted, "We’re thrilled to be ranked No. 1 U.S. Airport by [The Points Guy]! As excited as we are, we know there's work to be done on improving our Terminal 1 experience. That’s why we've started moving forward with plans to replace Terminal 1."

Terminal 1 has been a stickler for many who travel through the region. The entry way to San Diego, opened in 1967, served more than 12 million travelers last year, the airport says.

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The airport's planned revamp of Terminal 1 includes demolishing the current terminal and replacing it with a new three-level facility with 30 gates and possible commercial development, according to the airport's 2018 drafted plans.

Portland International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, and Sacramento International airports rounded our the top five in the list.

Among the worst airports were Florida's Southwest Florida International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, and Orlando International airports; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne, and Chicago Midway airports.