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Northwest Arkansas National Airport

Coordinates: 36°16′54″N 094°18′28″W / 36.28167°N 94.30778°W / 36.28167; -94.30778
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Northwest Arkansas National Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerNorthwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority
ServesBentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers
Location1 Airport Blvd, Bentonville, Arkansas
Elevation AMSL1,288 ft / 393 m
Coordinates36°16′54″N 094°18′28″W / 36.28167°N 94.30778°W / 36.28167; -94.30778
Websitewww.flyxna.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16L/34R 8,801 2,683 Concrete
16R/34L 8,800 2,682 Concrete
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft operations (year ending 6/30/2023)46,510
Based aircraft12
Passenger volume1,982,866

Northwest Arkansas National Airport (IATA: XNA, ICAO: KXNA, FAA LID: XNA) in Northwest Arkansas[1] is a public-use airport located in Benton County, Arkansas, serving the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas region, 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) northwest of Fayetteville[1] and 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) northwest of Springdale.[3] Since its opening in 1998, XNA has become a vital transportation hub, reflecting the area's economic expansion and increasing travel demands.

XNA covers 2,680 acres (1,085 ha) of land and has two parallel 8,800 foot (2,682 m) runways.[1]

It sees year-round, daily nonstop jets to major cities such as Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, and Washington D.C. In total, the airport provides 26 nonstop destinations, including both year-round and seasonal routes.

The following airlines operate out of XNA:

XNA's operations benefit significantly from its proximity to the headquarters of major corporations, including Walmart in Bentonville, Tyson Foods in Springdale, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services in Lowell. The airport is also frequently utilized by athletic teams from the University of Arkansas for away games and by Razorback opponents visiting Fayetteville.

XNA passenger traffic has increased significantly, with 2023 marking a record year. The airport recorded 991,489 enplanements, far exceeding its pre-pandemic record high of 922,533 enplanements in 2019. The record-breaking performance was driven by the addition of new nonstop destinations, expanded airline services, and the continued growth of Northwest Arkansas as a business and leisure hub. Projections for 2024 estimate that enplanements will reach 1.1 million.

XNA is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.[4]

History

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The establishment of XNA was driven by the need to accommodate the region's growing population and economic activities. Prior to XNA, Drake Field in Fayetteville was the primary airport, but its operational limitations prompted the search for a more capable facility. In 1990, the Northwest Arkansas Council, a private, non-profit organization, was formed with Alice L. Walton as its first chairperson. Under her leadership, the Council initiated efforts that led to the creation of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority, which included representatives from Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, Siloam Springs, Springdale, and Benton and Washington counties. This collaborative approach culminated in the opening of XNA on November 1, 1998, featuring a single terminal and runway.

In 2023, the Arkansas General Assembly passed legislation allowing regional airport authorities to detach from municipalities without requiring annexation by another municipality. Consequently, on September 19, 2023, XNA initiated the process to detach from the city of Highfill, aiming for equitable regional benefit for all five cities and two counties.

Expansion

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In 2007, airport officials announced the construction of a new concourse costing between $20 million and $25 million. The new facility, east of the upper concourse, has allowed the airport to increase its number of airplane parking positions from twelve to twenty. Building the new facility took over three years.[5]

The airport completed a ticket counter expansion in 2010. The airport has completed a $21 million expansion to the upper-level concourse that includes the state's first moving walkway. With the walkway, it is anticipated to take about three minutes to get from security to the last gate. The addition adds 51,000 square feet (4,700 m2) and twelve upper-level gates to the east side of the airport.[6]

The airport was previously known as Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. It adopted the name Northwest Arkansas National Airport in December 2019. Airport officials attributed the change to perception, saying that the new name would help attract more airline service.[7]

On September 23, 2021, it was announced that Board members took the first steps toward adding a new, second concourse. The board voted to have staff negotiate with Fentress Architects for conceptual drawings for the first phase of Concourse B. The design work will cost about $185,000. The new concourse would allow the airport to use its boarding gates more efficiently. The Board are contemplating bringing some gates on Concourse A back into use for certain aircraft sizes and redesigning others. Phase One would include an elevated walkway, a hold room for passengers and a covered walkway out to a ground-level loading area onto the aircraft. Construction of the project is estimated to cost roughly $35 million to $50 million. Longer range plans call for building out Concourse B to roughly match Concourse A.[8]

In 2023, the airport began a Terminal Modernization Project designed to enhance passenger experience and accommodate growing demand. Key elements of this project include:

  • Updated baggage claims with upgraded conveyor systems.
  • New elevators, escalators, and stairwells to improve accessibility and increase vertical redundancy of passenger flow.
  • Redesigned pick-up and drop-off areas, with additional traffic lanes for better flow.


Recognizing the need for upgraded infrastructure, the airport began construction of a new air traffic control tower in June 2024. The new tower will replace the existing 57-foot structure, which was originally intended as a temporary solution when the airport opened in 1998.

The new tower will stand at 141 feet to the top of the cab, significantly improving visibility and operational efficiency for air traffic controllers. The enhanced height and modern features of the new tower will enable XNA to better handle increasing air traffic volumes as the region continues to grow.

At present, excluding Robinson Maneuver Training Center and Little Rock Air Force Base, two military facilities, XNA is the largest commercial/public/general aviation airport in terms of land area (2,680 acres, 4.2 sq.mi.) in the state of Arkansas.[1][9]

Runway

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The original runway built in 1998 required complete reconstruction in 2011, following the discovery of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in its Portland cement concrete. Since the runway was the only one at the airport, a temporary runway was necessary to maintain service during reconstruction. Stimulus funds of $9 million ($12.8 million in today's dollars) from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) allowed XNA to accelerate the alternative runway construction project. Upon completion of the alternate runway in 2012, all aircraft operations were shifted to the new surface and demolition and replacement of the primary runway began.[10]

Access Road

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Construction officially began on the four-lane interstate access road on April 17, 2024. Managed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT), the project will be a four-lane highway, extending approximately 4 miles from the airport entrance at Highway 264 to Highway 612, also known as the Springdale Bypass. Once completed, the road will provide a much-needed connection to the airport, improving travel times and accessibility for passengers and businesses in the region.

The need for this access road has been discussed for more than two decades. This project is expected to greatly improve safety, reducing the number of accidents caused by heavy traffic on narrow, rural routes leading to the airport.

The access road is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Facilities

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Terminal view

The airport covers 2,680 acres (1,085 ha) at an elevation of 1,288 feet (393 m). It has two runways, 16R/34L and 16L/34R. 16L/34R is 8,801 feet long by 150 feet (2,683 x 46 m) wide and 16R/34L is 8,800 feet long by 150 feet (2,682 x 46 m) wide.[1][11]

In the year ending June 30, 2023, the airport had 46,510 aircraft operations, average 127 per day: 49% airline, 12% air taxi, 25% military, and 14% general aviation. In June 2023, 12 aircraft were based at the airport: 3 single-engine, and 9 jet.[1]

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Allegiant Air Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Gulf Shores (begins May 22, 2025),[12] Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, St. Petersburg/Clearwater [13]
American Airlines Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth
American Eagle Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia (resumes December 19, 2024),[14] Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Washington–National [15]
Breeze Airways New Orleans, Orlando, Tampa[16]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Delta Connection Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia, Salt Lake City (resumes February 13, 2025)[17]
Frontier Airlines Denver
United Airlines Denver
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental [18]
Destinations map
class=notpageimage|
Destinations from Northwest Arkansas Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Blue = Future destination

Statistics

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Top destinations

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Busiest domestic routes from XNA (October 2023 – September 2024)[19]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 225,430 American
2 Atlanta, Georgia 130,070 Delta
3 Charlotte, North Carolina 119,950 American
4 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 117,890 American, United
5 Denver, Colorado 100,390 Frontier, United
6 Houston–Intercontinental, Texas 70,060 United
7 New York–LaGuardia 45,600 American, Delta
8 Los Angeles, California 37,480 Allegiant, American
9 Phoenix-Sky Harbor 26,640 American
10 Destin/Fort Walton Beach 25,010 Allegiant

Annual traffic

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Annual passenger traffic at XNA
1999–present[20][21][22]
Year Passengers Year Passengers Year Passengers
1999 653,022 2009 1,083,638 2019 1,846,374
2000 725,175 2010 1,139,801 2020 721,107
2001 735,822 2011 1,127,909 2021 1,234,328
2002 786,948 2012 1,135,023 2022 1,682,351
2003 892,489 2013 1,160,032 2023 1,982,866
2004 1,020,146 2014 1,276,851 2024
2005 1,168,858 2015 1,295,235 2025
2006 1,172,049 2016 1,396,738 2026
2007 1,200,122 2017 1,438,922 2027
2008 1,146,954 2018 1,574,610 2028

Note: In November and December 1998, the airport's first two months of operations, XNA served 53,565 passengers.

Airline market share

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Largest airlines at XNA
(January 2023 – December 2023)[23]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Envoy Air 622,000 32.16%
2 SkyWest Airlines 286,000 14.77%
3 Allegiant Air 229,000 11.82%
4 American Airlines 171,000 8.85%
5 Delta Air Lines 158,000 8.15%
– Others 469,000 24.24%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g FAA Airport Form 5010 for XNA PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 28, 2024.
  2. ^ "XNA Historical Traffic Reports 1998-2023". flyxna.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Distance and heading from Springdale (36°10'53"N 94°08'45"W) to XNA (36°16'54"N 94°18'28"W)". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "NPIAS Report 2019-2023 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 3, 2018. p. 16. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  5. ^ "XNA Opens New Concourse". KNWA. August 24, 2011. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  6. ^ "XNA Expands Terminal, Runway Facilities". 4029tv.com. June 30, 2010.
  7. ^ "Airport in northwest Arkansas to get new name". Associated Press. December 12, 2019.
  8. ^ "Northwest Arkansas National Airport officials seek concept drawings for first phase of a new concourse". nwaonline.com. September 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "List of Airports in Arkansas From SkyVector". skyvector.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Nordstrom, Robert (2012). "Alternate Landing Surface Keeps Air Traffic Moving at Northwest Arkansas Regional". Airport Improvement Magazine. No. 2. Archived from the original on 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  11. ^ "XNA airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "Allegiant Ties Record for Largest Expansion in Company History with 44 New Nonstop Routes, plus 3 New Cities". Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Allegiant Interactive Route Map". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  14. ^ "American announces new nonstop flights to Philadelphia out of XNA". August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Flight schedules and notifications". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Breeze Airways bringing new flights to XNA". May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Delta announces new nonstop flights to Detroit, Salt Lake City out of XNA". August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "Timetable". Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  19. ^ "RITA – BTS – Transtats".
  20. ^ "Airport Traffic Statistics". Archived from the original on 2014-07-15.
  21. ^ "XNL Airport Traffic Stats | Historical Reports | 1998-2021 Reports". Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  22. ^ "XNA Historical Traffic Reports 1998-2023". flyxna.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  23. ^ "RITA – BTS – Transtats".
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