Northwest Arkansas added 14,744 new residents between 2024 and 2025, roughly 40 people a day, ranking ninth in the nation for percentage population growth among all U.S. metro areas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The region has grown 41 percent since 2010. Yet for all that momentum, the airport experience at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) looked a lot like it always had. That changes now.
On May 13, CLEAR launched at XNA, bringing biometric identity technology to one of the country’s most dynamic regional markets. For travelers who expect seamless security at major hubs, the arrival signals something broader: that experience is no longer exclusive to big cities.
Why Biometric Travel Is No Longer a Big-City Perk
Traveler demand for this technology has outpaced its rollout for years. A 2024 survey by the U.S. Travel Association and Ipsos found that 79 percent of American air travelers support TSA’s use of biometrics at security checkpoints. Among TSA PreCheck members, that figure reached 86 percent. Travelers aren’t just tolerating the technology; they’re pushing for it.
The industry has responded. CLEAR now serves more than 8.2 million active members across 61 airports, and the company is on track for a network-wide biometric eGate rollout in 2026. XNA’s launch is part of that national push.
What’s Actually Changing at XNA
The CLEAR launch introduces three components that reshape the security experience from curb to gate.
CLEAR+ Lanes and biometric eGates allow members to verify their identity in under five seconds using facial recognition, bypassing the traditional ID check line and proceeding directly to physical screening. The eGates remove the document-handling bottleneck that has long been the first friction point of air travel.
CLEAR Concierge goes further. It provides a personal escort from arrival through security and directly to the gate, built for families, executives and frequent flyers alike. At a regional airport, where staffing and signage can be less predictable than at a major hub, a guided curb-to-gate experience is a meaningful upgrade.
XNA already connects passengers to 27 nonstop destinations across the United States. Its security infrastructure is now catching up to that reach.
Biometrics Are Coming to Regional Airports
The buildout is accelerating beyond major hubs. The TSA had installed 2,054 credential-authentication units at 250 airports by October 2025, according to the Department of Homeland Security, with each device matching a passenger’s face to an encrypted ID in under two seconds. Regional airports are increasingly modernizing ahead of legacy systems rather than waiting to retrofit them.
“As our region continues to grow, we remain focused on adding services that help travelers move through the airport with ease and confidence,” said Aaron Burkes, CEO of XNA.
What It Means for Travelers
A fast, predictable airport experience is no longer something travelers accept only when flying through Atlanta or Dallas. As regional markets grow, the infrastructure that serves them is following.
Northwest Arkansas has spent 15 years becoming a place people want to live. Its airport is now becoming a place they can actually enjoy leaving from.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.