XNA Flight Passengers Increase from 2009

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) had 37,652 total passengers in February, up 6.7 percent from 35,272 in February 2009. Enplanements were down to 540,918 in 2009 from 571,845 in 2008, a 5.4 percent decrease.

Seat capacity has not decreased since the end of 2008, when all airlines cutback seat capacities to restore profitability. The addition of airline Allegiant Air, a low-cost carrier that targets weekend travelers, has increased seat capacity since the airline started flying to XNA in May of last year. Allegient Air flies from XNA to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando.

“The early part of 2009 was the bottom of the trough for us. Clearly we have bottomed out and are starting to build back up,” XNA executive director Scott Van Laningham said.

Since its bottoming out, airport officials have noticed the airport parking lots are beginning to fill up and the rental lots are emptying