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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.
Northwest Arkansas National Airport | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 1 Airport Blvd, Bentonville, Arkansas | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,288 ft / 393 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 36°16′54″N 094°18′28″W | ||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||
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 FAA airport diagram | |||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||||||
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XNA covers 2,680 acres (1,085 ha) of land and has two parallel 8,800 foot (2,682 m) runways.[1]
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 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]
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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
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
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
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.
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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]
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Passenger
| Destinations map |
|---|
  Northwest Arkansas Destinations from Northwest Arkansas Airport Red = Year-round destination Green = Seasonal destination Blue = Future destination |
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Top destinations
| 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
| 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
| 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% |
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