T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick has been named the country’s top airport by Travel + Leisure for the second consecutive year, earning a score of 85.16 in the magazine’s annual reader survey.
What voters praised
The New York–based publication cited the airport’s compact layout and easy movement through concourses as reasons travelers ranked it above larger metro hubs. The survey evaluates airports on several categories, including access, check-in and security, dining, shopping and design.
Travel + Leisure highlighted how the airport’s smaller footprint can make trips quicker and less stressful for passengers—an advantage that has helped T.F. Green outscore bigger competitors despite their more extensive amenities.
“To be named the No. 1 Domestic Airport in back-to-back years is a testament to the dedicated work of all employees at PVD, the countless vendors we rely upon, and our airline partners,” said Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of Rhode Island Airport Corporation.
Recent changes at the terminal
The airport received a score of 84.9 last year, before a series of modernizations began. Recent updates include new dining options, automated coffee machines, prominent welcome signage on Interstate 95 and aesthetic renovations inside the terminal. Those improvements were financed through a combination of federal grants, passenger fees and airport funds.
Some visible changes have been part of the modernization: a replica sailboat near baggage claim was relocated and a public sculpture that had stood inside since 2002 was decommissioned as renovation work progressed.
How the region fared
Two other New England airports made the Travel + Leisure top 10 list. Portland International Airport in Oregon finished second overall with a score of 83.09, while Manchester-Boston Regional in New Hampshire placed eighth with a score of 79.38.
| Airport | 2026 Score |
|---|---|
| T.F. Green (PVD) — Warwick, R.I. | 85.16 |
| Portland International — Portland, Ore. | 83.09 |
| Manchester–Boston Regional — Manchester, N.H. | 79.38 |
- Ranking based on reader surveys that evaluate access, check-in and security, dining, shopping and design.
- PVD improved slightly on last year’s score of 84.9 while major terminal renovations were underway.
- Modernization spending included passenger fees, federal grants and airport funds.
State and local officials have said improvements at T.F. Green reflect broader efforts to make Rhode Island more accessible to visitors and more convenient for residents who travel. For many local travelers, the appeal is practical: shorter walks between check-in and gates, quicker security lines and straightforward navigation through two concourses.
While national rankings are subjective and reflect reader sentiment as much as hard metrics, back-to-back No. 1 placements reinforce T.F. Green’s reputation as a small, efficient alternative to the region’s larger airports. That reputation carries potential economic benefits for Rhode Island’s tourism and business travel sectors as well as validation for the state’s recent capital investments in airport infrastructure.
As renovations continue, the airport will remain under scrutiny from passengers and planners alike as it tries to balance modernization with the features that voters rewarded: convenience and ease of movement.
