McKinney National Airport has joined Dallas Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field as the third commercial passenger airport serving the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Avelo Airlines began scheduled service from the North Dallas airport in November, connecting travelers to four Florida destinations.
The move gives residents of Collin County and the northern suburbs a closer option for air travel, cutting out the drive south to the region’s two established airports. McKinney National, previously known as Collin County Regional Airport, has operated as a general aviation facility for years and now enters the commercial market with a single carrier and a focused route map.
Avelo’s Florida-Focused Launch
Avelo Airlines picked McKinney as a base for four routes, all heading to Florida. The carrier operates flights to Orlando International Airport, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport, and Sanford Orlando International Airport. Each route runs on a limited weekly schedule using the airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft.
Andrew Levy, Avelo’s founder and CEO, has positioned the airline around underserved secondary airports rather than competing head-to-head at major hubs. That strategy fits McKinney, which sits about 30 miles north of downtown Dallas and offers shorter security lines and easier parking than the region’s larger airports…