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XNA is the airport code for Northwest Arkansas National Airport, previously known as Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. The airport is located in Highfill, Arkansas, and is in close proximity to Bentonville, Springdale, Lowell, and Fayetteville. The airport code XNA was chosen because none of the available options matched well with Northwest Arkansas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Northwest Arkansas National Airport |
| Former Name | Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport |
| Airport Code | XNA |
| Location | Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| Year of Opening | 1998 |
| Number of Runways | 2 |
| Number of Aircraft Operations in the Year Ending June 30, 2023 | 46,510 |
| Number of Passengers in 2024 | 2,293,352 |
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What You'll Learn
- XNA stands for Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport
- The airport code is assigned by the IATA (International Air Transport Association)
- XNA is the smallest airport in the US to feature a branded lounge
- The airport is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- XNA is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019-2023
XNA stands for Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport
The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport was dedicated by President Bill Clinton on November 6, 1998, and officially opened for commercial service on November 1, 1998, ending an eight-year process of planning and construction. The airport was built to accommodate the region's growing population and economic activities, as the previous primary airport, Drake Field in Fayetteville, had operational limitations.
The airport covers 2,680 acres at an elevation of 1,288 feet and has two runways. In the year ending June 30, 2023, the airport had 46,510 aircraft operations, averaging 127 per day. XNA is classified as a small-hub primary commercial service facility by the FAA and is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019-2023.
In 2019, the airport's name was changed to Northwest Arkansas National Airport, with the three-letter code XNA remaining the same. The name change was intended to better communicate to passengers the locations they could travel to from the airport.
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The airport code is assigned by the IATA (International Air Transport Association)
The airport code is a three-letter identifier and is assigned by the IATA or the International Air Transport Association. The IATA is responsible for keeping these codes and acting as a clearinghouse for debt settlement between airlines. The IATA was founded in Havana, Cuba, in 1945 and has main offices in Geneva, Montreal, and Singapore.
The Northwest Arkansas National Airport, previously known as the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, is located in Highfill, Arkansas and is assigned the airport code XNA. The airport is centrally located within close proximity to all the communities of northwest Arkansas. The airport officially opened for commercial service on November 1, 1998, with President Bill Clinton dedicating the airport a few days earlier on November 6.
The XNA airport code was chosen because none of the available options matched well with Northwest Arkansas. The Navy has dibs on most codes beginning with the letter N, which is why Nantucket is ACK, Newark is EWR, and Norfolk is ORF.
XNA is the smallest airport in the United States to feature a branded lounge. The airport covers 2,680 acres at an elevation of 1,288 feet and has two runways. In 2023, the airport detached from the city of Highfill, aiming for equitable regional benefit for all five cities and two counties in the region.
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XNA is the smallest airport in the US to feature a branded lounge
XNA, or Northwest Arkansas National Airport, is the smallest airport in the United States to feature a branded lounge. The airport, which is located in Highfill, opened for commercial service in November 1998, bringing an end to an eight-year process of planning and construction. XNA is centrally located within close proximity to all the communities of northwest Arkansas, while also being far enough away from populated areas to minimise any adverse impact from aircraft operations.
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 organisation, was formed. Over the next several years, a series of studies concluded that a new airport was economically feasible and environmentally compatible.
In 1994, the Federal Aviation Administration awarded a grant to purchase the land, and ground was broken and construction began in August 1995. Three years and three months later, XNA opened for commercial air service. In 1999, the Airport Authority Board of Directors honoured Ms Walton for her contribution to the success of the airport project and for her support of transportation improvements throughout the region by naming the airport terminal the Alice L. Walton Terminal Building.
In 2024, XNA set a record, surpassing 2 million passengers for the first time, with 2,293,352 passengers served. The airport covers 2,680 acres at an elevation of 1,288 feet and has two runways. In the year ending June 30, 2023, the airport had 46,510 aircraft operations, averaging 127 per day. In February 2025, Escape Lounges opened a 2,300-square-foot facility in the airport's main concourse, making XNA the smallest airport in the US to feature a branded lounge.
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The airport is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas
The Northwest Arkansas National Airport, abbreviated as XNA, is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The airport officially opened for commercial service on November 1, 1998, marking the end of an eight-year planning and construction process. XNA is situated near Highway 71 bypass on Highway 264 at the Lowell exit, providing convenient access for travellers.
Prior to the establishment of XNA, Drake Field in Fayetteville served as the primary airport for the region. However, operational limitations at Drake Field prompted the search for a more capable facility. The Northwest Arkansas Council, a private non-profit organisation, was formed in 1990 to address the need for upgraded infrastructure.
The construction of XNA was made possible through a federal grant awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1994, allowing for the purchase of land and the subsequent groundbreaking in August 1995. Three years and three months later, XNA commenced operations, offering commercial air service to various destinations.
XNA is strategically located within close proximity to several communities in northwest Arkansas while maintaining a sufficient distance from populated areas to minimise any adverse impact from aircraft operations. The airport covers 2,680 acres of land and has two runways, accommodating a range of aircraft.
Over the years, XNA has undergone expansions and improvements, including the addition of a new concourse, ticket counter expansions, and the development of a branded lounge. The airport has also experienced significant growth in passenger numbers, surpassing 2 million passengers in 2024.
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XNA is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019-2023
XNA, or Northwest Arkansas National Airport, is included in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) 2019-2023 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The NPIAS identifies nearly 3,300 public-use airports that are part of the national airport system, the functions they serve, and the amounts and types of airport development eligible for federal funding under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) over the next five years. The FAA is required to publish a five-year estimate of AIP-eligible development every two years.
The NPIAS includes all commercial service airports, reliever airports, and selected public-owned general aviation airports. XNA, located near Fayetteville, falls under the category of commercial service airports. It offers commercial air service to 18 destinations across the United States, including Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
The history of XNA dates back to the 1950s when efforts to build a regional airport in Northwest Arkansas first began. In 1992, voters from seven governmental entities overwhelmingly supported the airport project. Studies concluded that the new airport was economically feasible and environmentally compatible. Construction began in August 1995, and the airport opened for commercial service in November 1998.
Over the years, XNA has expanded its services and improved accessibility. In 1999, the airport terminal was named the Alice L. Walton Terminal Building in honour of Ms. Walton's contribution to the project. In 2019, the airport board approved changing the name to Northwest Arkansas National Airport to better communicate the travel options available to passengers. While the airport's name has evolved, its three-letter code, XNA, has remained the same.
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Frequently asked questions
XNA stands for Northwest Arkansas Airport, previously known as Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.
None of the available options matched well with Northwest Arkansas, so they settled for XNA. The Navy uses most codes beginning with N, which is why some codes have an 'X' in front of the 'NA'.
The airport officially opened for commercial service on November 1, 1998, following an eight-year planning and construction process.
