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Construction at Northwest Arkansas National Airport is moving along steadily as the transportation hub is on track for its busiest year yet. STATE OF PLAY: The airport broke ground on a new
air-traffic control tower this month, spokesperson Olivia Tyler told Axios. * New baggage-claim carousels replacing 25-year-old ones are up and running, and upgraded elevators and escalators
are being installed. * The airport has redirected pickup and dropoff traffic as it prepares to add more lanes. * Slim Chickens recently opened inside the airport; however, no other dining
options are presently in the works, Tyler said. THE BIG PICTURE: There's no indication the growth in traffic will slow down anytime soon, XNA chief operating officer Andrew Branch said
in late June during a webinar hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Council. * Airports are largely at the mercy of airlines when it comes to prices and destinations. XNA leaders would like to
see more destinations in the West and Northwest, such as San Francisco and Salt Lake City, Branch said. * Airport officials have voiced a desire to add Southwest Airlines, but there's
no word on whether the major carrier has any plans to come here. BY THE NUMBERS: XNA had 416,548 enplanements — or tickets to fly out — from January through May, "blowing 2023 numbers
out of the water," Tyler said. * Total enplanements numbered 991,489 in 2023. WHAT'S NEXT: A new lounge is in the design phase, with plans to open late this year. Crystal Bridges
Museum of American Art's planned satellite location at XNA also has a tentative opening of late this year, Tyler said.
