Northwest Arkansas National Airport is moving forward with a nearly $79 million terminal expansion that will add five net gates as the airport responds to continued passenger growth.

The airport approved a $78.8 million contract with CDI Contractors for construction of the Western Concourse, a two-level, approximately 111,000-square-foot addition on the west side of the existing terminal.

The project will include seven new gates, although two existing B gates will be removed to accommodate the expansion, resulting in a net increase of five gates. New hold rooms, restrooms and concession space are also planned, along with improved access to the airfield.

Construction is expected to begin this fall and take approximately two years. The airport selected a gable-roof design intended to provide architectural continuity with the existing terminal while controlling long-term construction and maintenance costs.

The project comes as XNA continues to set passenger records. Through the first seven months of 2026, enplanements increased more than 5% compared with the same period in 2025. The airport recorded 129,397 departing passengers in July, following another monthly record in June.

The Western Concourse is one of several infrastructure projects underway or planned as XNA accommodates growth in Northwest Arkansas.

The airport is also planning a multilevel consolidated rental car and public parking facility that would bring rental car ready/return operations, customer service, fueling, cleaning and light maintenance into a single facility while adding structured public parking.

Airfield improvements include rehabilitation of the terminal apron, with work designed to replace deteriorated concrete, improve drainage and pavement strength and expand aircraft deicing and remain-overnight parking capacity.

XNA is also pursuing a federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan to help finance the Western Concourse. Airport officials have said the lower-cost financing could save tens of millions of dollars in interest. If approved, the financing would mark the first use of a TIFIA loan for an airport terminal construction project.

The Western Concourse is expected to be completed in 2029.