First ‘Escape’ lounge opens at XNA
by March 12, 2025 12:07 pm 1,154 views
A 2,300-square-foot Escape Lounges lounge recently opened at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill. The lounge, XNA’s first, is after the security checkpoint in the terminal.
According to a news release, the lounge will offer travelers a “comfortable and elevated pre-flight environment.” Amenities include dining, beverages, high-speed Wi-Fi, charging stations and dedicated workspaces. It has nearly 50 seats.
“Opening the Escape Lounge is a significant milestone for XNA,” said Aaron Burkes, CEO of XNA. “As our passenger traffic continues to grow, we are committed to enhancing the travel experience and providing our customers with new, high-quality amenities. The Escape lounge will be an excellent addition for travelers looking to unwind and enjoy premium services before their flights.”
Lounge access can be booked online at escapelounges.com for $45. Walk-up access is $55. Guests have lounge access for three hours before flights. Hours are 3:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 3:45 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Food and beverage service stops 30 minutes before closing.
The lounge offers area-sourced food and beverages from Confident Coffee Roasters and Social Project Brewing Co. and various hot and cold dishes and drinks.
“We’re so excited to open our newest Escape Lounge at Northwest Arkansas Airport and to be able to offer passengers the opportunity to pre-book their visit ahead of their day of travel,” said Craig Pring, vice president of growth and experiences at CAVU, parent company of Escape Lounges. “Pre-booking a visit guarantees guests have an escape to remember and can start their trip being able to relax, unwind, and enjoy delicious, freshly prepared food from our in-house chefs.”
The lounge has 17 full-time staff and four full-time managers.
According to the release, adding the lounge is part of XNA’s ongoing effort to expand and improve passenger services. The airport offers 26 nonstop destinations and surpassed 1.1 million enplanements in 2024. Enplanements comprise passengers flying out.