McKinney National Airport Lands Avelo Airlines As Dallas-Fort Worth’s Third Passenger Airport

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is about to gain a third scheduled passenger airport.

Ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines has announced it will launch the first commercial passenger services from McKinney National Airport (DTX/TKI) in November 2026, marking a significant milestone for one of Texas’ fastest-growing communities. The move will transform what has long been a thriving general aviation airport into the newest commercial gateway for North Texas, sitting alongside the region’s established airports at Dallas/Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field.

A New Airport for North Texas

Avelo will inaugurate flights from McKinney on 11 November 2026, initially serving five leisure destinations using its Boeing 737-800 fleet.

The launch network will include:

• Las Vegas
• Fort Lauderdale
• Fort Myers
• Orlando
• Tampa

The airline also plans to base two aircraft at McKinney, creating more than 100 local jobs including pilots, cabin crew, engineers and ground staff. The carrier will become both the airport’s launch airline and anchor tenant as commercial operations begin.

Becoming the Metroplex’s Third Passenger Airport

For decades, almost all scheduled passenger traffic in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has centred on two airports.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has grown into one of the busiest airports in the world and serves as the primary hub for American Airlines, while Dallas Love Field (DAL) remains the long-time home of Southwest Airlines.

McKinney National Airport will now offer travellers living in the rapidly expanding northern suburbs a much closer alternative, potentially avoiding the often lengthy drive to either of the region’s larger airports.

Initially, the airport will remain a relatively small operation, but officials have designed the new facilities with future expansion very much in mind.

From Business Aviation to Airline Flights

Located around 30 miles (48km) north of downtown Dallas, McKinney National Airport has been an important business aviation facility since opening in 1979.

Owned by the City of McKinney, the airport serves as a reliever for both DFW and Love Field and is home to a busy mix of corporate aircraft, private aviation, air taxi operators and flight training activity. Companies including Toyota and Texas Instruments maintain significant aviation operations in the surrounding area, helping make it one of the busiest general aviation airports in Texas. It handles more than 140,000 aircraft movements per year, with over 200 aircraft based there.

A Brand New Passenger Terminal

McKinney National Airport

Commercial flights will operate from a completely new passenger terminal currently nearing completion on the airport’s eastern side.

The 46,000 sq ft (4,275 sq m) facility has been designed specifically for low-cost airline operations and will initially feature:

• Four boarding gates (expandable to six)
• Central food and beverage concessions
• Spacious departure lounges
• Nearly 1,000 public parking spaces
• Car rental facilities
• Modern security screening

Airport planners expect around 200,000 passengers annually during the first phase, with room to accommodate up to one million passengers in the future if demand continues to grow.

Airport Layout

McKinney National currently has a single concrete runway:

18/36 – 7,002 ft (2,134 m)

The runway is equipped with an ILS approach to Runway 18 together with RNAV procedures at both ends, making it suitable for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320-family aircraft—the types expected to dominate future scheduled operations.

Alongside airline flights, visitors can expect to continue seeing a healthy variety of business jets, turboprops, light aircraft and visiting corporate traffic, ensuring that the airport retains its strong general aviation character.

A Good Airport for Plane Spotting?

Unlike the sprawling terminals and extensive security found at DFW, McKinney remains a much smaller airport, with public roads running close to parts of the airfield and several locations around the perimeter offering unobstructed views of aircraft movements.

Although dedicated spotting facilities do not exist, the airport’s smaller scale should make spotting considerably easier than at many larger commercial airports.

If you want to see the general aviation aircraft, head for the main entrance near the control tower where views through the fence are possible.

The arrival of scheduled Boeing 737 services will add another dimension to what has traditionally been a business aviation hotspot, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to capture airliners alongside an impressive variety of Gulfstreams, Challengers, Falcons and other executive aircraft.

It will be interesting to see whether the airport embraces its new audience by providing official viewing areas as commercial operations expand.

Have you ever been spotting at McKinney National Airport? What are your tips? Leave a comment below!