Airport Overview
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (KXNA/XNA) opened in 1998 and serves the Bentonville-Fayetteville-Rogers-Springdale metro from Highfill, in Benton County. It is a full air-carrier airport, handling more than 2.5 million passengers and roughly 51,800 aircraft operations in 2025. For private travelers, XNA pairs commercial-grade runways and instrument approaches with a dedicated business-aviation FBO.
Corporate Aviation Hub
Few US airports its size see the corporate-jet demand of XNA. The field sits at the doorstep of three Fortune-ranked headquarters: Walmart in Bentonville, Tyson Foods in Springdale, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services in Lowell. The result is one of the most active corporate-jet markets per capita in the country, with a steady flow of business aircraft and a deep base of locally registered jets, including Citation Latitudes and a Falcon 7X.
Runway Capability
XNA's two parallel concrete runways, 16L/34R at 8,801 feet and 16R/34L at 8,800 feet, accept everything from light jets to heavy intercontinental aircraft. At a modest field elevation near 1,288 feet MSL, density-altitude penalties stay manageable even on warm summer afternoons, so charter operators rarely face weight or fuel-load restrictions departing XNA.
Charter Considerations
The on-field FBO is Regional Jet Center, open around the clock at 12344 Tower Drive. It handles Jet-A fueling, ramp parking, hangar storage for large-wingspan aircraft, quick turns, and maintenance. Pre-arrival coordination is straightforward, and the FBO can arrange ground transportation for the short drive to Bentonville (about 12 miles) or Fayetteville (about 15 NM).
Customs & International Arrivals
XNA does not offer general dedicated on-field general-aviation customs the way a major international gateway does. International private flights should arrange CBP clearance in advance through the airport authority or plan to clear at a designated port of entry before continuing to XNA. The Jet Finder can advise on routing and customs logistics for inbound international charters to Northwest Arkansas.
Safety & Planning
The field is towered and operates 24/7, with ILS or LOC approaches to Runways 16L and 34R and RNAV (GPS) procedures for low-visibility access. A new 141-foot control tower is under construction to replace the original temporary structure. Standard flight planning from XNA accounts for current NOTAMs, TFRs, and seasonal weather; The Jet Finder monitors these and communicates schedule impacts before departure.
Seasonal & Operational Factors
Northwest Arkansas experiences a temperate climate with active spring and summer convective weather. Thunderstorms typically build after early afternoon, so morning departures from XNA tend to offer the most schedule certainty. Winter frontal passages can briefly drop ceilings to IFR minimums, but the airport's instrument approaches and 24/7 operation keep it reliably accessible year-round.
Regional Context
XNA is the dominant jet field for Northwest Arkansas. The nearest general-aviation alternates include Bentonville Municipal / Louise M. Thaden Field (KVBT, about 6 NM) and Smith Field (KSLG, about 10 NM), while Rogers Executive Airport serves additional general-aviation traffic in the region. For most business charters, XNA's runways, FBO, and approaches make it the clear primary choice.