McKinney National Airport’s commercial service terminal is still on track to open this fall.
Latest update
Officials from the city, McKinney Community Development Corp., McKinney Economic Development Corp. and Avelo Airlines toured the terminal Feb. 26. Construction started on the $79 million project in 2025 and is ongoing.
As of February, all of the terminal’s interior walls have been installed, and the passenger parking lots have been constructed, according to the airport’s website. Work is currently focused on mechanical, electrical and plumbing within the terminal.
“I’m always shocked by how much progress has been made,” McKinney National Airport Director Ken Carley said. “Last time I was in here, this was all just a shell. There [were] no interior walls or any of the utilities.”
The context
McKinney officials broke ground on the terminal in July 2025, years after voters denied a $200 million bond measure to fund it. Instead, the project is funded by a mix of sources including the McKinney Community Development Corp., McKinney Economic Development Corp. and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2.
The project includes multiple construction partners including Swinerton Builders for construction management services and Garver for architecture and engineering services.
Avelo Airlines became the future terminal’s first airline partner in December after reaching an agreement for its use of airport facilities. The 46,000-square-foot terminal is expected to open later this year and serve 200,000 passengers in its first year of operation.
Zooming in
Mitchell McAnally, regional aviation leader for Garver, led the tour. Officials walked through the building the way a passenger with a planned flight would.
The new terminal will include multiple areas familiar to air travelers, such as a ticketing and check-in area, a TSA security checkpoint area, a concessions space and the terminal gates. While the terminal is expected to open with four gates to start, six gates are being constructed, McAnally said.
Officials have planned for four gates at the terminal with an option to expand to six gates, if needed.
Carley said the terminal was an “exciting project” and that he was “delighted” to see the turnout from city officials at the tour.
“They understand the vision and what it means to the city,” he said.
Quote of note
Mayor Bill Cox said what stood out to him during the tour was the building’s efficiency. He was referring to how passengers will flow in and out of the terminal from the parking lot to baggage check-in and through security.
“It really does flow well,” he said. “It’s a very efficient building.”
McKinney National Airport is estimated to generate nearly $300 million annually for McKinney and the surrounding region, according to a 2024 economic impact study. When the commercial terminal opens, that impact is expected to increase, Cox said.
“That’s new employment, ad valorem taxes, sales taxes and all the other items that go along with new development of the commercial terminal,” he said.
Looking ahead
Officials aim to start air service before Thanksgiving in 2026, Carley said. He said the market would support multiple airlines and that other airlines are interested in offering commercial air service at the terminal.
He said it was a “big deal” that Avelo Airlines were the first ones to formally commit to commercial service at the airport. They’re investing money into the project just like the city, he said.
“That speaks volumes for the confidence that they have in this market and its ability to support air service,” he said.
Leading up to the opening, officials are planning several requests for proposals seeking contractors for services within the terminal. Those RFPs will include searches for a parking vendor, concessions vendor and more.
One more thing
Courtney Goff, communications manager with Avelo Airlines, said it was amazing to see the terminal’s progress. Avelo officials are expecting to announce flight details a few months prior to the terminal’s official opening. Those announcements are expected to include flight destinations, dates and fares.
