Passengers board the first commercial service plane to take off from McKinney National Airport on Nov. 11. (Colby Farr/Community Impact)
Avelo Airlines’ first commercial passenger flight out of McKinney National Airport took off shortly after 9 a.m. Nov. 11.
It marks the start of commercial passenger service that will operate out of McKinney National Airport’s new terminal. Fort Myers, Florida, is the first of five destinations that Avelo Airlines will fly to this fall. The airline will add six more destinations in December.
The gist
Officials from the city, airport and Avelo Airlines held another ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 11 and made remarks before the first flight was boarded. McKinney City Manager Paul Grimes said it was a milestone for McKinney and Collin County.
“This is an airport that’s going to serve the region and we’re very, very excited about that,” he said.
Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said he’s been looking forward to this day for three and a half years. Officials from the Houston-based company were “especially proud” to put down roots in Collin County, he said.
“We are really excited to bring our brand of service to this entire region,” Levy said.
The background
Avelo Airlines officials signed on as the terminal’s first airline partner in December 2025 and have since committed to basing three Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft at the airport. The airline’s investment is expected to create 150 jobs, including pilots, flight attendants, aircraft technicians and airport personnel.
The terminal opening comes less than four years after McKinney residents voted against a $200 million bond proposition that would have contributed funding to the project.
McKinney officials opted to move forward with the initiative on a smaller scale, ultimately constructing a 46,000-square-foot terminal with four gates and the capacity to expand the facility in the future. The $79 million project is instead funded by a mix of local city funds and grants.
McKinney National Airport's commercial terminal includes a concessions stand, seating area, restrooms and rental car counters.(city of McKinney/Community Impact)
Mapping it out
Avelo Airlines is planning for the following routes to launch Nov. 11-19. Destinations include:
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Orlando, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Additional Avelo Airlines routes are set to launch Dec. 16-17, with flights to:
Atlanta, Georgia
Denver, Colorado
Nashville, Tennessee
New Orleans, Louisiana
Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
The terminal is located at 1910 FM 546, according to McKinney National Airport's website. For more details regarding traveler advisories and airport information, visit www.flydtx.com.
