HIGHFILL -- The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport has a new name to better reflect its role and to help marketing, officials said.
The Northwest Arkansas National Airport will retain its XNA designation.
By the numbers
Here’s a look at some highlights at XNA as of Oct. 31.
• Enplanements were up 16.8% year to date.
• Net operating income was $10.9 million, year to date, up from $7.6 million last year.
• Parking revenue was up $1.2 million over last year.
• Landing fees were up $520,000 over budget.
• Car rental commissions were up $225,000 over budget.
Source: Northwest Arkansas National Airport
Airport authority board members voted unanimously Wednesday to change the name. The airport has been designated as a small hub airport, but has more flights to domestic destinations than airports at Tulsa, Okla., Springfield, Mo., or Little Rock, according to airport officials. XNA has 19 direct routes, including seasonals.
"The name is a perception thing. It is how people view us," said Andrew Branch, chief business development officer at XNA. "When we talk to airlines, when we talk to UPS, FedEx in the future, how will we be perceived when they first see our name? Will they think we're a smaller airport when we say we're regional?"
XNA is also approaching 1 million enplanements a year. Enplanements this year are on track to break 900,000, according to Tim O'Donnell, chief financial officer. Enplanements in November were up 10.5% over last year, he said.
"Why not," said board member Mike Johnson. "We're there, let's get on with it."
Changes to signs and the airport's website will be required to reflect the new name, but it shouldn't cost much, Branch said. The legal name of the controlling entity, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority, won't change.
Board members were also told Wednesday a preferred route for an access road to the airport could be tentatively selected by the middle of next year. A proposal to improve and use existing roads as the primary access to the airport is expected to be dropped. Airport officials have said they prefer a proposed new route to XNA from Arkansas 612 to the southeast.
Bill McAbee with Garver Engineering told the board more than 150 people attended a public meeting about the access road last week and about 60 comments have been received. Seventy-five percent said they'd prefer the proposed new route.
The original plan was for the airport authority to build and pay for a long driveway to the airport from Arkansas 612 at Elm Springs. That plan was shelved in favor of working with the state on a road that'll likely end up being a state highway.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation in June offered to design the access road. Airport officials accepted the offer, saying it will speed the process.
The Transportation Department contracted with Garver to do an environmental assessment for a connector road. The scope of work includes road and bridge design plans. It has not been decided whether the road will be two lanes or four initially.
"We'll be recommending that they go full, four-lane, do it right the first time," said Jeff Hawkins with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
NW News on 12/12/2019