A new study revealed the best and worst Florida airports. How did your favorite rank?

Miami International Airport is the second best airport in Florida.

Melbourne Orlando International is the best. And Tampa International rounds out the Top 3.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was No. 5.

So says the results of a new index study conducted by FloridaRentals.com, a service group that puts vacation rental owners and managers together with travelers looking for vacation rental properties.

“MIA’s ranking in the survey is welcome news and is consistent with our on-time performance in 2022, when MIA had the 10th-best percentage of flights arriving on time among the busiest airports in the world,” Greg Chin, communications director for Miami-Dade Aviation Department, said in an email to the Miami Herald Wednesday. Chin cited the Official Airline Guide 2022 Punctuality Report.

Given that nearly 138 million non-residents visited Florida in 2022 — more than two-thirds arriving by air, a 12.9% increase from 2021 “and the largest number of visitors in the state’s history,” according to FloridaRentals, the folks there wanted to know what the best and, conversely, worst airports were among the 19 across the Sunshine State.

“As airports continue to fund and expand their facilities, we hope developments should help to make passenger’s traveling experience into Florida more seamless,” a spokesperson for FloridaRentals said in a statement.

What did the study analyze?

The survey people looked at 14 factors to get to a mathematical score of 100. These included number of scheduled outbound direct flight destinations, average minutes delay per flight, average minutes delay due to weather, average minutes delay due to security, average minutes delay due to aircraft arriving late, average cost of hotels within five miles for one night, and percentage of all operations canceled.

“A trip to Florida should be an exciting, stress-free experience. Therefore, when choosing your Florida destination, it is always good to choose a destination airport you feel comfortable flying into,” the FloridaRentals spokesperson said in a media release.

Punta Gorda Airport fared the worst in FloridaRental’s study, scoring 33.84 out of 100, and with an average 21 minute, 13 second flight delay and 28.49% of PGD’s operations delayed.

Details on the Top 3 airports

Here are some details about the top three airports.

▪ 1. Melbourne Orlando International Airport at the top scored 73.97 out of 100. According to FloridaRentals’ survey the airport had an average 7 minutes and 45 seconds delay per flight. Only 2.03% of its operations were canceled; 0.11% were diverted and 13.75% delayed. There are 102 hotels within a five-mile radius, with an average $234.93 cost for one night.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 77.26% of MLB’s flights were on time in 2022 and 2.32% were canceled.

A spokesperson for FloridaRentals.com said in a statement, “Melbourne Orlando International is one of the easiest, speediest airports, according to recent travelers. MLB recently announced a $72m terminal renovation and expansion project with nearly 86,000 feet of new facilities to be added including an expanded departure area with new gates, a new security checkpoint, and extended international baggage claim area.”

▪ 2. Miami International Airport at No. 2 scored 71.52. There were 183 scheduled outbound flights from MIA, and 460 hotels within a five-mile radius. A night’s stay near MIA cost an average of $180.69 per night, according to FloridaRentals.

Axios reported that 78% of flights departed on time from MIA in November 2022, a busy travel month, and just below the national average of 80%.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 71.63% of MIA’s flights were on time in 2022 and 3.48% were canceled.

Of MIA, the FloridaRentals spokesperson said, “Miami International Airport also has plans to improve, after recently announcing plans to open a private luxury terminal service for commercial flights in 2025.”

In April, the Miami-Dade Commission approved a bid by that private company, PS, to convert MIA’s former Pan Am building into a luxurious private terminal for elite flyers who would pay to avoid the airport’s crowded concourses, the Miami Herald reported.

▪ 3. Tampa International Airport at No. 3 scored 69.97. The flights had an average 4 minute and 3 second air carrier delay, the survey said.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 70.55% of TPA’s flights were on time and 3.73% were canceled.

Airports ranked 4-19

Here are the scores for the rest of Florida’s airports in the study.

▪ 4. Daytona Beach International: 68.34

▪ 5. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International: 66.21

▪ 6. Orlando International: 64.24

▪ 7. Sarasota/Bradenton International: 63.40

▪ 8. Southwest Florida International: 62.28

▪ 9. Jacksonville International: 62.16

▪ 10. Gainesville Regional: 61.70

▪ 11. Key West International: 61.62

▪ 12. Pensacola International: 59.62

▪ 13. Tallahassee International: 58.26

▪ 14. Palm Beach International: 57.75

▪ 15: Eglin AFB Destin Fort Walton Beach: 54.89

▪ 16. Northwest Florida Beaches International: 51.27

▪ 17. St. Pete Clearwater International: 39.23

▪ 18. Orlando Sanford International: 35.37

▪ 19. Punta Gorda Airport: 33.84.