What’s happening?
Avelo Airlines announced the new base would open in late 2026 as carrier officials look to close bases in other parts of the U.S., according to the news release. The changes enable the carrier to “focus on sustainably scaling five core bases in 2026 and to prepare the company for growth in the coming years,” the news release states.
The announcement comes weeks after Avelo Airlines signed an agreement to provide commercial service at McKinney National Airport. Courtney Goff, communications manager at Avelo, said officials are not yet sharing specifics for future base operations at McKinney National Airport.
“McKinney was chosen as it fits well into our strategy of using secondary areas in large-metro areas,” Goff said in an email. “The team at [McKinney National Airport] and the city have been great partners as we work to open operations later this year.”
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Avelo Airlines is the first carrier to commit to commercial passenger service at McKinney National Airport. The airline will announce a launch date and destination flights that will launch from the airport a few months prior to the commercial terminal’s opening.
McKinney officials broke ground on the commercial terminal in July. The 46,000-square-foot terminal is on track to open in late 2026, according to officials.
The terminal will open with four gates and have the capacity to expand to six gates. The $79 million project also includes infrastructure to support the commercial terminal such as a 980-space public parking lot, a new taxiway and roundabout at FM 546.
McKinney City Council members approved a $17.7 million contract with Sinacola in December to construct the new taxiway and roundabout. Work is expected to start in January and finish in October, according to the city's website. Construction on the terminal itself is expected to finish in November.
