HIGHFILL, Ark. — Nearly a year later, renovations are still going on at the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).
XNA opened for business 25 years ago. Since then, it’s been no secret that the area has grown both in travel and population. To keep up, the airport decided it was time for a change.
"The biggest takeaway for the terminal modernization project is that the board of XNA recognizes the growth of Northwest Arkansas,” Olivia Tyler, Public Affairs Manager for XNA, said. “We want to reflect that the growth of Northwest Arkansas is intrinsically connected to the growth of the airport."
Dubbed the Terminal Modernization Project by XNA, the airport’s renovations began March 2023 and is expected to be completed March 2025.
To meet the demands of a growing population, the airport is adding two new baggage carousels, touching up on paint and expanding and replacing the windows of the existing terminal to keep the natural light.
The terminal is also being expanded 30 feet, to give travelers more space. To help deal with the increased foot traffic, more ways for people to get around are also being added.
"We're also adding new elevators, escalators and stairwells,” Tyler said. “That's to make sure that the passenger flow is even more efficient as we're growing."
The airport also recently added a second Mamava Pod, a pod for nursing, to the terminal. The airport says they are trying to ensure those nursing have a secure and comfortable setting.
"We’re always wanted to adhere to every passenger no matter what walk of life that they're in right now,” Tyler said. "Being able to have these nursing pods, the Mamava pod, is a huge upgrade and we just want to really make sure our passengers are comfortable and accustomed to flying at XNA."
Officials say this $34 million project is meant to give travelers a taste of Northwest Arkansas while departing and arriving.
"In every meeting that we have, we always mention 'sense of place',” Tyler said. “Northwest Arkansas is Arkansas' best kept secret. We have so many regional businesses and local businesses. We want, when passengers step off the plane, and they may have never experienced northwest Arkansas, to get a little bit of a feel for that."
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