According to a recent post by NY Times blogger Nate Silver, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) is the most expensive mid-size airport in the country.
Mid-size airports, according to the data provided by Silver, are characterized as those ranked #51-100 in origin and departure traffic.
His calculations landed XNA at the most expensive on his list, with an average fair markup of $158 per ticket.
From the report:
Perhaps the most unfairly priced airport in America is Northwest Arkansas Regional in Fayetteville. Economy-class round trip tickets cost an average of $527 there, $158 above fair rates.
Silver blamed the high prices at XNA on its proximity to the world’s largest retailer, just down the road from the airport in Bentonville.
The reason, no doubt, is because the traffic there is dominated by business travelers on their way to and from the headquarters of Wal-Mart in nearby Bentonville. Although Wal-Mart is famous for its sensitivity to prices, and has saved consumers billions of dollars over the years, its pricing power evidently does not extend to the air fares its executives and clients have to cough up.
I would agree completely. I would love to use them more often, but it is hard to justify it when Tulsa is pretty close and is almost always much cheaper. I have gotten a few good deals from XNA and have used them, but that is pretty rare. I would think it is becuase there is an international airport just a couple hours away (Tulsa) and they just can’t compete with that… might as well market for convenience. Though I’m sure most of those seeking that convenience are going to wal-mart hq though. Parking is cheap at least!
I agree completely…and see that first hand working here at XNA. Whewww…
As one who frequently flies into and out of XNA I feel lucky that Allegiant Airline services my home airport. With gasoline prices being what they are, and the round trip to Tulsa being roughly four hours, they’ve pretty much priced themselves to the breaking point of the average traveler’s sense of convenience. If I do fly into Tulsa, I like to pop into Jameel’s for crudites and steak.
I’ve found that prices at xna, while high, are just low enough to make the hassle and expense of driving to Tulsa not quite worth it. They’ve really got their gouging set at just the right level.
When did XNA move to Fayetteville?
They should instead say XNA in the middle of a cow pasture in Arkansas.
Good suggestion!
Agreed. When I have family visit, I always tell them to fly into Tulsa. The tickets are usually half the price of what they are at XNA.
the high XNA prices are offset by the lovely, relaxing drive to-and-from their facility. only not.
It’s not in Fayetteville but is often labeled as such. It’s actually technically in Highfill but has a Bentonville address. Pretty confuuuusing. And coming from someone who takes that drive daily… yeah, not worth it.
During a recent attempt to fly into XNA from Houston (a one hour flight) I learned that for $78 more I could fly to London instead.