Avelo Airlines has announced it will begin commercial passenger service at McKinney National Airport (DTX) on Wednesday, November 11. The inaugural flight will depart for Fort Myers, Florida. In addition to that route, the carrier will offer service to Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada. These five locations represent the first destinations scheduled from the facility.
McKinney is about 7 miles south of Melissa. The airline stated that introductory fares for these routes start at $99 each way. Passengers who complete their bookings by the end of July will receive one free checked bag. Avelo plans to operate 184-seat Boeing 737 aircraft from the airport. The company also indicated that it is creating more than 100 jobs in North Texas to support these new operations.
Andrew Levy, the founder and chief executive officer of Avelo, described McKinney as a location the airline had identified as interesting due to perceived community interest. He stated that the airline was built for this expansion and highlighted its low fares and on-time performance as key benefits for travelers. Ken Carley, the airport director, noted that the announcement provides concrete answers to questions residents and officials have asked over the past five years regarding routes and schedules.
The launch of commercial flights comes more than four years after the city of McKinney began exploring the possibility. Former Mayor George Fuller was a primary supporter of the project, citing potential economic benefits for the city and Collin County. However, the initiative faced opposition from some neighbors concerned about increased noise and traffic. In 2023, residents voted against a $200 million bond proposal intended to help cover the estimated $300 million cost for the terminal and infrastructure.
The city council subsequently found alternative funding methods and approved zoning changes in 2024, which allowed construction to proceed. The passenger terminal will initially feature four gates, with space to expand to six. A federal lawsuit filed by the North Texas Conservation Alliance challenging the Federal Aviation Administration's environmental approval was dismissed.
