Regional connection part of XNA concourse opening

The Aug. 24 grand opening of a new $20 million concourse at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) is expected to draw more than 500 business and political leaders from around the state, including those from the Fort Smith area.

Construction on the concourse expansion began February 2010, and will provide eight gates, boosting to 22 the number of gates and the growing regional airport. (This gate number is corrected. The original report erroneously noted 20 gates.) Airport officials recently completed a major ticket-counter expansion and are planning other renovations on existing concourse space and construction of new warehouses.

The airport, which opened in November 1998 sporting a price tag of around $110 million, has seen its traffic grow from 329,216 in the first full year (2000) to 570,625 in 2010. During the first half of 2011 the airport reported 284,505 enplanements, up 3.98% compared to the 273,589 in the 2010 period.

“Hopefully it will take care of us for awhile,” said Airport Director Kelly Johnson when asked if there was an estimated time that the new gates would allow the airport to handle enplanement growth.

Passengers out of XNA have a choice among 51 flights daily to Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Memphis, Detroit, Houston, Newark, Denver, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Orlando/Sanford and Las Vegas.

The new concourse, to become operational Sept. 1, will present a better impression to those flying into XNA, Johnson said.

“It will significantly change how people will view our facility. It’s very sophisticated. It’s very metropolitan,” she explained. “It will make a difference in people’s first impression of Northwest Arkansas.”

The airport authority approved in February a 10-year deal with Atlanta-based The Paradies Shops to offer retail services — including food and beverage — at the airport. The company operates more than 500 stores in more than 70 airports and hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

Stores to be part of the new concourse include:
• Jammin’ Java, which sells freshly-made signature sandwiches, salads and beverages;
• Ozark Grill, a pub-style restaurant and bar;
• Boar’s Head Express that will provide breakfast, quick lunch, or quality dinner; and,
• CNBC News Café and MarketPlace.

REGIONAL SUPPORT
Planning to attend the opening of the new sophisticated environment are Fort Smith Vice Mayor and City Director Kevin Settle, Van Buren Mayor Bob Freeman and Mat Pitsch, director of the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority (RITA).

RITA was formed in August 2009 with the broad goal to maximize the use of all forms of transportation — rail, barge, air, interstate — so as to reduce shipping costs and increase service options for regional business and industries. The authority was formed with the approval of Crawford County, Sebastian County, Fort Smith and Van Buren.

Pitsch is already scheduled to speak Aug. 24 to members of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce about river and rail connections between Northwest Arkansas at the Fort Smith region.

“It will be one of the best regional days we’ve seen in a long time,” Pitsch said, adding that the last time so many people from both regions were gathered together was to support the Bella Vista Bypass project.

The Bella Vista Bypass will connect Arkansas and Missouri with an interstate highway that will eventually be part of I-49. The proposed bypass is about 20 miles, extending from U.S. 71 just south of Bella Vista to U.S. 71 near Pineville, Mo. Arkansas’ portion is approximately 15 miles in length, while the Missouri section will be about 5 miles.

Pitsch said showing support for XNA and other infrastructure assets in Northwest Arkansas does not suggest a lack of support from similar assets in the Fort Smith region. He said both economic areas are connected and the connections should be used in a way that helps both areas to grow.

“We have citizens in this area who use that (XNA) airport. If we’re going to think regionally, we have to think regional in all aspects,” Pitsch explained. “I use the Fort Smith airport whenever I can, but I have had to use XNA when my business plans require it. … And I also know of people up there (Northwest Arkansas) who use the Fort Smith airport.”

‘A CONNECTOR’
Although a prior commitment to a citywide PTA meeting prevented Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders from attending the XNA concourse event, the mayor echoed Pitsch’s  regional philosophy.

“Regionalism, including Northwest Arkansas, is more important than ever, and I’m pleased that the invitation to participate was presented. The tunnel between here and Northwest Arkansas needs to be a connector, not a divider,” Sanders said.

The regional effort is not all taking place north of the Interstate 540 tunnel. In late August/early September, the staff of the Northwest Arkansas council is scheduled to meet with Pitsch and other RITA officials to tour transportation infrastructure and other economic development facilities in Crawford and Sebastian counties. The meeting, according to Pitsch, will help both groups learn more about how they can collectively promote the use and development of economic development assets in the two regions.

Also on the planning schedule is an October meeting in the Fort Smith region between RITA officials and Scott Bennett, the incoming director of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. Pitsch said Arkansas Highway Commissioner Dick Trammel  and the Northwest Arkansas Council staff are working to pull together the meeting that will be one of the first public events for Bennett in his new role.