XNA sets record as Walmart associates leave

Northwest Arkansas National Airport saw its busiest day since it began operation nearly 9,400 days ago, according to Fare Flight NWA .

• At least 5,428 people passed through the TSA checkpoint Friday, the final day of Walmart's annual associates and shareholders meeting.

Why it matters: Travelers spend money on food, souvenirs and services. Most of that capital is taxed, so cities and the state get a boost.

The caveat: Not all who went through TSA boarded a plane. The number includes employees and potentially those with a guest pass .

• The actual number of passengers boarding planes won't be known until later this month.

Yes, but: In raw numbers, the airport's second-busiest day was Saturday and its fifth-busiest was Sunday, spokesperson Olivia Moore told Axios.

The big picture: The traffic count shows XNA is prepared to handle cyclical influxes of people and that the region is ultimately a destination.

The bottom line: Passengers boarding planes at XNA were up by 11% the first part of the year, and 2024 is speculated to be its busiest year yet.