Travel is up in the air
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Northwest Arkansas National Airport isn't one of the airports that could see 10% of their air traffic cut Friday, but it remains unclear how a continued shutdown might affect XNA travelers.
State of play: Air traffic control staff at XNA has not been affected because the air tower is privately operated, XNA spokesperson Olivia Tyler told Axios. The staff is contracted through CI Squared Aviation.
- Likewise, TSA officers have continued to show up to work with minimal disruption, she said.
Catch up quick: The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that 10% of air traffic at 40 "high traffic" U.S. airports will be cut Friday if the shutdown continues.
- The affected airports include several destinations with direct flights to XNA, according to the Associated Press. Among the destinations are Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Denver and Las Vegas.
Context: XNA is expecting to see a busy holiday travel season as air traffic has majorly ramped up at the airport in recent years, Tyler said. XNA saw a 12% increase in the number of times passengers boarded planes through the first 10 months of this year compared with the first 10 months of 2024.
What's next: While XNA hasn't seen significant delays or cancellations so far during the shutdown, it's unclear what air travel will look like if the FAA cuts back on air traffic. XNA is prioritizing safety and security first, Tyler said.
Go deeper: What to do if the FAA cuts or cancels your flight