Northwest Arkansas added 14,744 new residents between 2024 and 2025—roughly 40 people per day—placing the region ninth in the nation for percentage population growth among U.S. metro areas, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The area has grown about 41 percent since 2010. Despite that rapid expansion, travel through Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) often felt the same as before. That is changing.
On May 13, CLEAR launched at XNA, introducing biometric identity technology to one of the country’s fastest-growing regional markets. For travelers who expect the smooth security experience common at major hubs, CLEAR’s arrival signals that level of convenience is now available beyond big cities.
Why Biometric Travel Is No Longer a Big-City Perk
Traveler demand for biometric solutions has outpaced deployment 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, support rose to 86 percent. Rather than merely accepting the technology, many travelers actively favor it as a quicker, more reliable way through security.
Industry adoption has followed. CLEAR serves more than 8.2 million active members across dozens of airports and is pursuing a network-wide biometric eGate rollout in 2026. XNA’s implementation is part of that broader expansion into regional hubs.
What’s Actually Changing at XNA
CLEAR’s launch brings three key elements that change the security flow from curb to gate.
CLEAR+ lanes and biometric eGates let members confirm their identity in under five seconds using facial recognition, eliminating the traditional ID check line and allowing passengers to move directly to physical screening. The eGates address the long-standing document-handling bottleneck that often creates the first delay in air travel.
CLEAR Concierge expands the service by offering a personal escort from arrival through security and straight to the gate. For families, executives, and frequent flyers—especially at a regional airport where staffing and signage can vary—a guided curb-to-gate experience is a meaningful improvement.
XNA already offers nonstop service to 27 destinations across the United States; its security infrastructure is now aligning with that network reach.
Biometrics Are Coming to Regional Airports
Deployment of biometric technology is accelerating beyond major hubs. By October 2025, the TSA had installed thousands of credential-authentication units at hundreds of airports, with devices that can match a passenger’s face to an encrypted ID in under two seconds. Regional airports are increasingly choosing to modernize proactively rather than retrofit older systems.
“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 expect only when passing through major hubs like Atlanta or Dallas. As regional markets expand, the infrastructure that serves them is following suit, bringing convenience and reliability closer to home.
Northwest Arkansas has spent years becoming a place people want to live; its airport is now evolving into a place people can enjoy departing from.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she co-founded Food Drink Life, where she shares travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a passion for high-end and off-the-beaten-path experiences, Jennifer writes with a storyteller’s eye. Her work has been featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and other outlets.