Fort Smith airport traffic numbers up in May, TSA precheck event planned

Traffic at the Fort Smith Regional Airport was up in May, but is down almost 3% in the first five months of 2025. Enplanements at the airport have yet to recover from pre-pandemic levels.

Fort Smith Regional Airport May enplanements totaled 5,568, up 2.4% compared with 5,435 in May 2024, according to figures from the airport. Through the first five months of 2025, enplanements total 23,489, down 2.85% compared with the same period in 2024.

Enplanements at the airport in 2024 totaled 61,409, up 1.2% compared with the 60,669 enplanements in 2023. The 2024 tally is down 35.8% compared with 2019 when those traveling out of the airport totaled 95,670. Enplanements fell to 38,660 in 2020.

Fort Smith enplanements were on a growth trend prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time enplanements topped 100,000 was in 2005 with 102,607. The enplanement record is 112,782 set in 1975.

American Airlines had four to five flights a day in 2021 but has reduced its schedule to three flights a day. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines stopped its direct service to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in July 2020.

Following are the previous 10 years of Fort Smith enplanement totals.
2024: 61,409
2023: 60,669
2022: 61,719
2021: 47,287
2020: 38,660
2019: 95,670
2018: 90,501
2017: 89,582
2016: 87,488
2015: 86,704

TSA PRECHECK
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans a “PreCheck” event at the Fort Smith Regional Airport on July 10. Precheck enrollment allows travelers to move faster through security screenings, including keeping shoes, belts and light jackets on during the process. Enrollment also allows travelers to keep electronics and certain liquids in travel bags.

Precheck is in place at more than 200 U.S. airports. According to the TSA, 99% of precheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes to clear security screenings when traveling.

“This event saves you a trip to the nearest full-time enrollment center in Springdale, AR. If turnout is strong, we plan to host monthly enrollment events right here at FSM,” noted Lindsay Conley, Fort Smith Regional Airport director of finance and administration.

There is a $77.95 fee for enrollment. Enrollment hours at the Fort Smith event range between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. Link here to select an enrollment time.

Also, link here for more information about the required identification to successfully enroll in the precheck program.