Northwest Arkansas National Airport now ranks as the nation’s 95th largest commercial facility, new federal data shows.
The preliminary 2025 data published in June by the Federal Aviation Administration shows XNA moved up six spots from 2024.
People who live in Northwest Arkansas knew XNA set a record for passenger traffic in 2025, but the list published by the FAA reveals how XNA’s growth compares to other airports nationwide.
The more than 1.2 million passengers who boarded flights at XNA last year represented a 9.96% increase over 2024.
Among the nation’s Top 100 commercial airports, only three places exceeded or matched XNA’s growth rate. All of them are Allegiant Air operating bases in Florida: Punta Gorda (19.19%), St. Pete-Clearwater (13.91%) and Orlando/Sanford (9.96%).
In climbing to No. 95 overall, XNA passed Colorado Springs, Colo. (now No. 96); Madison, Wisc. (No. 97); Destin, Fla. (No. 98); White Plains, N.Y. (No. 99); and Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock (No. 101). Except for Destin, each of those airports is in a metropolitan area that’s larger than Northwest Arkansas.
XNA has been consistent in its rise up the FAA’s annual list. It sat at No. 113 in 2007, No. 114 in 2012, No. 105 in 2015, and No. 99 in 2019. The rankings for most airports became much less consistent during the COVID-19 years (2020-2023) before XNA and other airports saw some normalization in 2024.
Other airports in the region and where they ranked in 2025 include Tulsa International Airport (No. 84); Springfield-Branson National Airport (No. 117); Fort Smith Regional Airport (No. 270); Joplin Regional Airport (No. 345); and Boone County Regional Airport in Harrison (No. 513).
