McKinney residents will see the city’s airport transition to commercial service on Nov. 11, when Avelo Airlines begins scheduled flights with an inaugural route to Fort Myers, Florida. The launch marks the airport’s first passenger airline operations and makes McKinney the third Dallas‑Fort Worth area airport offering commercial flights, joining Dallas Love Field and Dallas‑Fort Worth International.
According to Community Impact, the FAA issued an airport operating certificate in September, a “rare milestone” that confirms the airport meets all safety standards for scheduled service. Ignacio Flores, director of the FAA’s Southwest Region Airports division, noted it was the first such certificate issued in Texas in more than 20 years. Airport Director Ken Carley said the certificate verifies compliance with all FAA regulations for passenger service.
Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy described the new routes as a “bullish” opportunity, emphasizing the airline’s focus on historic demand in the Dallas‑Fort Worth market and migration patterns to North Texas. In addition to the Fort Myers flight, Avelo will operate to six other destinations this fall, including Atlanta, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando and Tampa. The airline plans to add six more flights in December to Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana.
The airport is being identified by the International Air Transport Association as DTX for commercial operations, while retaining the FAA identifier TKI for general aviation. The new 46,000‑square‑foot terminal, broken ground in 2025, is located at 1910 FM 546. Funding for the $79 million project came from a mix of city funds and grants after voters rejected a $200 million bond measure.
Passengers will have access to Enterprise Rent‑A‑Car and a concession stand operated by Creative Hospitality Solutions. Both vendors are completing their spaces in the weeks before the Nov. 11 opening, and the Transportation Security Administration is finalizing its security screening area. The terminal features three entrances along the south side of a 980‑space parking lot, with the capacity to expand to 1,450 spaces. Parking will be charged at $15 per day.
City officials project the commercial terminal will generate about $3 million in revenue during its first year, derived from airline fees, concessions, rental‑car fees and parking, according to a budget presentation on Aug. 7. The overall airport fund anticipates $19.7 million in revenue and $20.8 million in expenses for fiscal year 2026‑27, a balance maintained over the previous five years. Assistant City Manager Barry Shelton said the goal is for the airport to become self‑sustaining within five years of commercial operation.
What’s next: Travelers can book tickets for the inaugural Fort Myers flight now, and Avelo will continue adding flights throughout December. The airport expects to finalize all terminal furnishings and IT systems in the coming weeks, positioning the facility for full passenger service on Nov. 11.
Sources: communityimpact.com
