XNA plans expansion to add new gates
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Northwest Arkansas National Airport plans to start construction this fall on a new concourse that will add a net total of five gates.
Why it matters: The major expansion of the formerly regional airport is perhaps the clearest indicator of how busy XNA is.
- It surpassed Little Rock's enplanements in 2025 and had its highest-ever number of enplanements in a single month in July. Enplanements are the number of times passengers fly out of the airport.
The big picture: In the past couple of years, the airport has added a new air traffic control tower and amenities including a satellite Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art location, lounge, and kids' play area, plus renovations like its updated baggage claim area.
State of play: XNA has a $78 million contract with CDI Contractors to build the 111,000-square-foot concourse with plans to complete the project in spring 2029.
- The concourse will add seven gates, but XNA will lose two gates because some space will be converted into a hallway, airport spokesperson Olivia Tyler tells Axios.
- The concourse's gates will be spread out enough to accommodate larger planes that XNA is increasingly seeing.
- The addition will also create space for additional food and beverage options, but the airport has no plans for what those will be.
Zoom out: A long-awaited road connecting the Springdale Bypass to XNA opened Friday. The 4-mile, four-lane corridor includes 11 bridges, an interchange at the project's south end and a tie-in to Highway 264 at the project's north end, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
- The road stands to cut commute times to the airport and make travel easier, as drivers often are slowed down by several stoplights depending on where they're traveling from, Tyler says.
What's next: A new parking deck is also in the works after the board recently gave airport officials the green light to move forward with designs, Tyler says.
- Flights to the airport's newest direct destination, Newark, start Sept. 24.