Avelo Airlines has announced it will launch the first scheduled commercial passenger service at McKinney National Airport, marking a significant shift for the facility. The low-cost carrier will begin operations on November 11, 2026, establishing McKinney as a new hub for regular air travel in North Texas. McKinney is located approximately 13 miles north of Plano.
Prior to this development, the airport in Collin County primarily handled general, business, and private aviation. The launch coincides with the opening of a new passenger terminal later in 2026, which aims to serve residents in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area. The facility will utilize the IATA code DTX for commercial operations.
Avelo will initially offer five nonstop routes. Service to Fort Myers, Florida, begins on November 11. Flights to Las Vegas and Orlando start the following day, November 12. Routes to Fort Lauderdale and Tampa are scheduled to commence on November 19. The airline plans to operate flights to Las Vegas four times weekly, while Orlando and Fort Lauderdale will receive five weekly flights. Tampa will have four weekly departures, and Fort Myers will initially see two flights per week.
To support these operations, Avelo intends to station two Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft at the airport. Each plane is configured with 184 seats. The airline projects that its initial investment will generate more than 100 local jobs, including positions for pilots, flight attendants, aircraft technicians, and airport staff.
Andrew Levy, founder and CEO of Avelo, described McKinney as a key step in the company’s expansion within Texas. He highlighted the airline’s low fares and on-time performance as advantages for travelers. Levy noted that the company is eager to increase its presence in Collin County, which is among the fastest-growing regions in the United States.
