Avelo to Open Base at McKinney National Airport in 2026

Avelo Airlines and city and airport officials said on Jan. 7 that the carrier will open a base at McKinney National Airport (TKI) later in 2026. The announcement follows a five-year use-and-lease agreement the airline signed with the airport in December. Officials said Avelo will reveal its launch date and the nonstop destinations it will serve “a few months” before the opening of the airport’s new commercial terminal.

The airport expansion is a roughly $79 million project that initially will provide four gates with room to expand. The construction package also includes a new passenger terminal, car rental facilities, a taxiway and a 980-space parking lot. Avelo has said it could begin service with as many as three daily flights on Boeing 737 aircraft, establishing a modest but meaningful volume of scheduled service out of McKinney.

For Collin County residents, the immediate effect will be greater direct air service options without driving into Dallas-Fort Worth International or Love Field. Four gates and up to three daily roundtrips on 737s could move hundreds of passengers per day once service stabilizes, supporting both business travel and leisure trips from McKinney and surrounding communities. New car rental facilities and the 980-space lot indicate airport planners expect a substantial share of travelers to drive to TKI, which has implications for local traffic flow and road maintenance budgets.

Economically, the $79 million expansion should produce construction jobs in the near term and create ongoing airport operations jobs thereafter, from ground handling to concessions and rental car staff. Increased passenger traffic can raise local sales and hotel tax receipts and broaden access for companies recruiting talent to Collin County neighborhoods. The presence of a low-cost carrier can also pressure competing airlines on fare levels for routes serving the region.

Avelo’s broader corporate context matters for long-term outcomes. The carrier has undergone network reshuffling and recapitalization and shifted focus toward several small-market bases. That strategy can bring new connectivity to communities like McKinney but also introduces some uncertainty about route persistence if corporate priorities change. City and airport officials will play a central role in coordinating ground access, parking management and potential public investments to capture economic benefits while managing congestion and environmental impacts.

Officials expect to provide more specifics on destinations and the precise start date a few months before the terminal opens. For now, Collin County residents can plan for new local flight options later in 2026 as the airport expansion progresses.