by Lydia Fielder
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport announced it will offer a nonstop flight to Nashville International Airport starting June 6.
Last year, XNA saw almost a 9 percent increase in passenger traffic last year, according to an announcement on Allegiant’s webpage. Allegiant said it is excited to offer direct access to Music City for its customers, like Nashville native and University of Arkansas junior Seth Coggin.
“Multiple times as a student I’ve had to go home for certain things over a weekend, and it is brutal to drive 8 hours on a Friday knowing you have to drive 8 hours again on Sunday,” Coggin said. “This would make it easier for me to go home and for my family to come up for a quick visit.”
But, the other way around, this flight route could cause problems with local housing markets, Bentonville native and Vanderbilt University senior Keagan Chronister said.
“Airbnbs pop up in family neighborhoods all the time as a result of more tourists, and bachelorette parties, for example, stay at them,” Chronister said. “They go out downtown, have a wild night, and continue making noise when they get back on weekdays. It’s caused a lot of noise problems for kids and parents who have work or school the next day. It’s a little outrageous.”
The new seasonal flights will operate twice weekly. With the addition of this new route, Allegiant will now serve five cities from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.