(SAN JOSE) San José Mineta International Airport is closing out a strong year with fresh recognition for on-time performance and steady growth in passenger traffic, even as global customer-satisfaction rankings show room to grow. In early 2025, Cirium’s 2024 On-Time Performance Review placed San José Mineta International Airport sixth worldwide in the medium-airport category, and the airport was rated California’s top-performing airport for on-time departures.
December 2024 alone saw more than 1 million travelers, pushing the annual total to nearly 12 million, a 4.9% increase from the previous year.
How rankings and surveys compare
The Airports Council International (ACI) World ASQ Awards—formally the Airports Council International (ACI) World ASQ Awards—released their latest results in March 2025. The ASQ program is built on nearly 700,000 live surveys from travelers worldwide.
- SJC did not place in the top five or the top 20% for overall passenger satisfaction within its size category of 5–15 million passengers.
- Despite that, the airport earned local credit for reliability, efficient operations, and a growing route map that keeps Silicon Valley connected.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Cirium on-time rankings and the ACI World ASQ passenger surveys measure different parts of the travel day:
- Cirium: how well flights leave and arrive as planned (punctuality).
- ASQ: how people feel about the airport from check-in to boarding (experience).
Read together, these measures give travelers a fair picture of both likelihood of making tight connections and how pleasant the airport feels while waiting.
Key takeaway: strong punctuality improves connection odds; passenger surveys show where the airport can improve the day‑of experience.
Operational gains and new routes
The airport’s operations team emphasizes punctuality, which matters for families and business travelers planning cross-country or long-haul trips. Cirium’s sixth-place global ranking among medium airports signals strong performance among peers.
For U.S. travelers comparing reliability, the U.S. Department of Transportation publishes official on-time data at:
https://www.transtats.bts.gov/ONTIME/On_Time_Performance.asp
Route growth shaping SJC’s 2024–2025 story:
- Frontier Airlines returned to SJC.
- Spirit Airlines added routes and increased frequencies.
- ZIPAIR expanded Asia service with Tokyo Narita flights.
- Delta Air Lines announced daily nonstop service to Las Vegas and the seasonal return of Detroit in 2025.
- Southwest Airlines added a new nonstop to Baltimore/Washington.
These additions improve traveler choice and timing windows, especially where reliable departure banks and fast turnarounds matter.
Local leadership reaction:
- Mayor Matt Mahan praised growth, airline returns/expansions, and sustainability work, calling SJC a world-class travel hub for Silicon Valley.
- City Manager Jennifer Maguire highlighted economic benefits and environmental alignment with city policy.
- Director of Aviation Mookie Patel emphasized a focus on the traveler’s day and continued investments in routes, amenities, and sustainability.
Customer experience scores and context
The ACI World ASQ program is the industry’s most widespread in-the-moment passenger survey, based on live feedback gathered at airports. For 2025, SJC did not place in the top five or top 20% for overall satisfaction in the 5–15 million passenger group. Airports that did place include Casablanca Mohammed V, Marrakech Menara, Juan Santamaría (Costa Rica), Monterrey (Mexico), and Quito (Ecuador).
Other benchmarks:
- SJC’s most recent Skytrax rating is 3 Stars (last updated in 2020).
- That review noted strengths in processing speed, staff motivation, and crowd control.
- It is not current for 2025 but provides a baseline for areas SJC has worked to maintain.
How scores improve:
- ASQ uses live surveys; Skytrax uses periodic audits.
- Improvements in satisfaction often follow targeted steps such as:
- clearer signage,
- shorter queues,
- better seating,
- more varied dining options,
- sustained punctuality to reduce traveler stress.
Operational investments that support experience:
- In 2024, SJC launched a comprehensive emergency response program and opened new administrative and fleet maintenance buildings to support front‑line teams during day‑to‑day operations and irregular situations.
Programs, contracts, and sustainability
SJC advanced climate work by moving up to Level 2 in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program, as part of the Climate Smart San José plan. This certification acknowledges progress in measuring emissions and making reductions—a meaningful factor for travelers considering airport and airline climate actions.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program:
- SJC maintains a DBE Program with a 3.0% goal for federally funded airport development projects for fiscal years 2026–2028.
- The airport presented the DBE goal-setting process to stakeholders in May 2025 and recommended no changes after public input.
- For small firms:
- This provides a clear target and a defined certification path in California.
- Contact: Magdelina Nodal, Civil Rights Coordinator/Liaison — [email protected]
- Mailing address: 1701 Airport Boulevard, Suite B-1130, San José, CA 95110-1206
- Details are posted on SJC’s site: https://www.flysanjose.com
Worker policies and tenant guidelines:
- SJC’s living wage and labor peace ordinances remain in effect.
- Stable teams in security, cleaning, concessions, and ramp services often lead to fewer slowdowns, better customer care, and safer operations.
- Tenant improvement rules:
- Tenants and contractors must adhere to the 2019 design criteria for contracts executed in 2019 or later.
- These standards support consistent wayfinding, safety, and functional layout.
Capital planning and anniversary:
- SJC updated its long-term airport master plan and advanced capital projects to manage post-pandemic growth.
- The airport celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024, reflecting decades of expansion—added gates, improved terminals, and a foundation for today’s route network.
What’s next: trends and travel implications
Industry observers expect SJC’s route map to keep growing through 2025 and beyond as airlines pursue demand from:
- South Bay’s tech sector,
- leisure travelers,
- visiting friends and family.
Upcoming industry event:
- The ACI World Airport Experience Summit in Guangzhou, China, is set for September 8–11, 2025, where airport leaders will share service-improvement practices.
Travel implications to note:
- For international travelers—especially to Asia—ZIPAIR’s Tokyo Narita service plus SJC’s punctuality is attractive for short connections at Narita or onward Pacific flights.
- For domestic flyers, new links (Delta’s Las Vegas daily and seasonal Detroit; Southwest’s nonstop to Baltimore/Washington) provide more choices for work, conferences, and family travel.
Airports typically move in cycles: invest in operations, grow routes, then execute targeted terminal upgrades based on traveler feedback. The ASQ surveys will continue testing SJC’s progress, while the airport’s data will show how changes affect morning rushes, families with strollers, and seniors needing clear signs and helpful staff.
Important: SJC leaders say they will continue to emphasize punctuality while fine-tuning the passenger path—from drop-off lanes to boarding doors—with small improvements that can have a big impact:
– more reliable Wi‑Fi
– clearer gate displays
– sufficient seating near outlets
– easy-to-find help desks when weather or other factors slow operations
For travelers who want to compare official timeliness across carriers and airports, review U.S. government data at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics page linked above. For airport updates on routes, projects, and contracting opportunities, SJC’s official site is the fastest source: https://www.flysanjose.com. For firms seeking DBE certification and work at the airport, contact Magdelina Nodal at [email protected].
Summary
SJC’s story at mid‑2025 is one of steady performance, airline confidence, and measured steps on customer care. The airport shows momentum in punctuality and sustainability, a combination that can build traveler trust.
- It has not yet reached a top five global ranking for overall passenger experience in 2025.
- However, ongoing investments in more flights, better reliability, and support for staff and contractors are moving the airport in the right direction.
This Article in a Nutshell
SJC posted nearly 12 million passengers in 2024 and earned a sixth-place global ranking for on-time performance in early 2025. Route expansions and sustainability gains contrast with a lack of top ACI ASQ satisfaction placement, prompting investments in passenger experience while maintaining punctuality.
