As more people move into northwest Arkansas, the demands on the region’s infrastructure have grown accordingly.
The region’s growth rate of 38 percent since 2010 makes it one of the fastest growing in the nation, a distinction it has held for decades now. The three counties making up the “479” metro — Washington, Benton and Madison — were home to more than 605,000 residents in 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau states.
Located just outside of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas National Airport opened in 1998 as the region’s growth began to climb. Prior to XNA’s opening, most northwest Arkansas travelers embarked on trips from either Little Rock or Tulsa.
XNA replaced Drake Field in Greenland, which offered commercial service through regional and commuter turboprops but was not equipped to meet the demands of a fast-growing metro, especially one home to several Fortune 500 companies, their vendors and the state’s flagship university.
Last year, XNA became the state’s busiest airport in terms of enplanements. (Photo provided by XNA)
Known colloquially as XNA, its International Air Transport Association airport code, Northwest Arkansas National was built to meet that demand.
With two 8,800-foot runways, XNA is served by six major carriers that offer nonstop service to 27 U.S. destinations. Last year, XNA overtook Clinton National Airport in Little Rock as the state’s busiest airport by passenger volume six years ahead of projections. (The Census Bureau forecasts NWA topping central Arkansas in actual population by 2050.)
Total enplanements at Clinton fell from roughly 1.17 million in 2024 to 1.16 last year, while XNA saw a 10-percent growth over the same period — from 1.14 million to 1.26 million. Each airport is served by six carriers — Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United at LIT and Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, Frontier and United at XNA.
The state is home to six other commercial service airports, though none of them see more than a fraction of the traffic at Clinton or XNA, each of them served by a single carrier. Fort Smith Regional Airport is a distant third behind the big two at 62,369 enplanements in 2025. Other CSAs are located in Texarkana, Harrison, Hot Springs, Jonesboro and El Dorado.
For CEO Aaron Burkes, XNA’s goal should be to make sure that passengers and potential passengers are aware of XNA and the number of direct flights it offers. As is the case with most smaller commercial hubs, flying out of northwest Arkansas offered convenience but little thrift. That, however, is no longer the case.
Aaron Burkes
“We also have to make potential passengers aware of the incredible value proposition at XNA,” Burkes said. “In years past, air fares from XNA were much higher than at some other airports around us. The reality is that average fares from XNA are now almost identical — and in some cases lower — than nearby airports.”
XNA has benefited from simple supply and demand. More passengers flying out of XNA means more seats sold and thus more direct flights offered. The airport is preparing for future growth, as well, having recently purchased 99 adjacent acres for $4.6 million.
“Operating a clean, safe and efficient airport experience makes it more likely that passengers choose XNA,” Burkes said. “More service, more airlines and more routes generally mean lower fares and more value for our customers.”
Suzanne Peyton, who took over as executive director at Clinton National this year after serving as the airport’s director of properties, planning and development for five years, is overseeing the completion of several important renovation projects.
Suzanne Peyton
Currently, about $10 million in passenger upgrades and $22 million in parking upgrades are underway at the airport. LIT’s impressive new $5.2 million curbside canopy was completed this year, as was the installation of new terrazzo flooring throughout the concourse and a new concourse exit lane designed to enhance security and improve traffic flow.
Planned projects include further terminal redevelopment, including a $300 million “arrivals hall” to replace the existing baggage-claim area and curbside amenities such as outdoor seating and landscaping enhancements.
Ongoing projects include improvements to terminal lighting, the addition of more parking, and a new $117 million, 23,000-square-foot central utility plant to replace aging electrical and mechanical systems. Scheduled to be completed in 2028, the CUP is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 95 percent. The airport recently added 110 passenger parking spots for short- and long-term parking, and roughly 2,000 more parking spaces are planned.
“We have to make sure that we can accommodate all of our passengers who are looking for a spot to park. That seems simple, but it’s very, very important,” Peyton said.
The new mechanical and electrical systems will use 760 drilled geothermal wells to replace existing natural-gas boilers and refrigerant coolers.
The projects are addressing mostly immediate needs, but later this year, LIT will address updates to its master plan.
Clinton National delivers a $1.7 billion economic impact. (Photo provided by LIT)
“With some extra funding that’s been available from Congress over the last five years, we’ve been able to accelerate some of the development that we were doing, so it’s time to look again at what the next 20 years of projects look like,” Peyton said. “We’ll start a master plan this year with the focus on our land-side strategy and the needs there, which would include parking including additional parking deck facilities, rental cars, and then what’s the highest and best use of the rest of our properties, and how do we become sustainable?”
Peyton said diversifying revenue and increasing sustainability will help add to the economic development of the community, a community which for LIT entails a 62-county catchment area. Clinton National remains the symbolic “front porch” of the state for many visitors, and it delivers a $1.7 billion economic impact.
“We have to listen to and understand what the community need is and how we best can be good stewards of the resources,” Peyton said. “We’ll be doing a lot of engagement with the community and our stakeholders as we design our terminal redevelopment.”
Though LIT does not offer international commercial service, it functions as an international airport to a degree with a full-time customs and border patrol station, the only one in the state. Plus, private international flights are coming in and out of LIT often including at least one a week between Dassault Falcon Jet’s completion facility on the LIT footprint and the company’s headquarters in France.
Peyton said it would require international flights of 150 to 200 passengers and additional customs capabilities to justify international commercial flights, and LIT is just not there yet.
“We’re actively engaging airlines on the strength of operating in Little Rock and the demand for both domestic and international travel,” she said. “We’ve invested in additional passenger research to better understand our market and support even more productive conversations.”
As for international flights taking off and landing at XNA, Burks said international service is part of the long-term vision.
“The global footprint of the companies headquartered here makes that a logical progression,” he said. “Before that can happen, certain federal requirements must be met, including customs facilities and sustained international demand. As passenger numbers continue to grow and corporate connectivity expands, international service becomes more realistic. It is not something that happens overnight, but it is certainly something we continue to evaluate strategically.”
XNA to Heathrow and beyond is a backburner item at the moment, but the airport’s front burners are busy cooking. Burkes said XNA is undergoing a transitional phase and has invested accordingly for the future. There’s a new air traffic control tower, recent terminal renovation, more land to grow — possibly for a new runway — and more gates on the agenda, as well.
The new tower at XNA. (Photo provided)
“The new air traffic control tower enhances safety and operational capacity, and the terminal modernization project has elevated the look, feel and functionality of the terminal building,” Burkes said. “Looking ahead, we are in the design phase for additional gate capacity through a future western concourse expansion, which will add seven new gates with large seating areas and new amenities. We are constantly evaluating long-term projects to best fit our passengers’ needs. The goal is to stay ahead of demand rather than react to it.”
Ultimately, the job of airport CEOs such as Peyton and Burkes is to make sure passengers’ trips start out on a good note.
“For many travelers, the airport experience sets the tone for the entire trip,” Burkes said. “Ease of parking, short security wait times, clean facilities, intuitive wayfinding and friendly customer service all matter. When you combine a convenient facility with nonstop service to 27 destinations, that creates a strong value proposition. A positive airport experience builds loyalty and reinforces the strength of the region.”
Burkes said XNA’s biggest strength is the region itself. Keeping up with its growth, however, can be challenging.
“Northwest Arkansas has one of the strongest corporate markets in the country and a rapidly growing population,” he said. “That sustained demand supports air service growth and attracts air service to our market. Our challenges are really just the flip side of our strengths. Rapid growth in passenger demand means there is a need for rapidly expanding facilities. Our goal is to provide a top-tier customer experience, which means investing in the facilities necessary to handle increased passenger activity. With strong fiscal management, we are optimistic that we will continue to impress our customers while responsibly managing our finances.”
