Avelo Airlines McKinney National Airport service is officially confirmed, with the budget carrier announcing five nonstop routes that will make it the first and only hometown commercial airline serving Collin County, Texas. Service begins on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026, connecting McKinney directly to Las Vegas and four major Florida destinations, with introductory one-way fares starting at $99. The launch represents a significant milestone for North Texas aviation, marking the first time Collin County will have scheduled commercial passenger flights, and arrives alongside the opening of a brand-new passenger terminal at the airport.
The Five Routes: Las Vegas Plus Four Florida Cities
The route map Avelo has confirmed gives North Texas travelers direct access to some of the country’s most popular leisure destinations.
Service begins on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11, with nonstop flights to Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS) and four Florida cities: Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Fort Myers (RSW), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA). The flights will operate on 184-seat Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 jet aircraft based at DTX. CBS News
Flights to Fort Myers will commence on 11 November 2026 with twice-weekly operations every Wednesday and Saturday. Las Vegas and Orlando services will begin on 12 November. Las Vegas will operate four times each week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, while Orlando will receive five weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fort Lauderdale and Tampa services are scheduled to launch on 19 November, with Fort Lauderdale operating five weekly departures and Tampa receiving four weekly services. CNN
WFAA spoke with Avelo CEO Andrew Levy, who said the destinations were carefully chosen. “These are five of the most popular leisure destinations in the U.S. These are markets that have wide appeal and the Florida market starting in the middle of November is perfect timing as you go at the time of year when Florida gets really popular,” Levy said. aol
Pricing and What Travelers Should Know
The launch includes promotional pricing designed to drive early bookings, along with a notable bag perk for those who book quickly.
Introductory one-way fares start at $99, and bookings made through July will include a free checked bag. aol
Avelo Airlines today announced commercial air service at McKinney National Airport (DTX), becoming Collin County’s first and only hometown airline. Travelers can make reservations at AveloAir.com. Flight start dates and weekly frequency information vary by route. CBS News
Booking quickly carries a tangible benefit beyond the introductory fare itself. The free checked bag offer for July bookings represents real savings for travelers who would otherwise pay Avelo’s standard baggage fees, and it provides an incentive structure that rewards early commitment to the new routes before the November launch date arrives.
The Las Vegas Comeback Story
For Las Vegas, this announcement represents the return of a carrier that exited the market entirely less than a year earlier.
Avelo, a low-cost airline that shut down West Coast operations last year, is returning to Las Vegas. The airline said Tuesday that it would begin offering nonstop service from Harry Reid International Airport to McKinney National Airport in North Texas. aol
Service begins Nov. 12 with four-times weekly flights on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. “We’re excited to return to Las Vegas and make it easier than ever for travelers to visit one of America’s most iconic destinations,” Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement. “Our new nonstop service between Las Vegas and North Dallas / McKinney provides travelers with a convenient, affordable and reliable travel option while connecting two fast-growing markets.” aol
Avelo first launched service at Reid International in 2021. Its flights connected Las Vegas to smaller locales like Bend, Oregon, and Santa Rosa, California. The airline stopped flying out of Las Vegas in August, part of a broader end to West Coast-based routes because of financial constraints. aol
The contrast is striking. Less than a year after pulling entirely out of Las Vegas due to financial pressures on its West Coast network, Avelo is returning to the same city through an entirely different route structure, connecting it to a new Texas base rather than reviving its previous California-focused operation.
McKinney’s New Terminal and the City’s Long Path to This Moment
For McKinney officials, Tuesday’s announcement is the culmination of years of planning that began well before any airline committed to the airport.
McKinney National Airport Director Ken Carley said, “I am proud to share that our collective efforts will culminate in November 2026 when we open a brand-new passenger terminal and launch Avelo Airlines flights for North Texas locals and visitors. City of McKinney and airport leaders have prioritized these goals since 2019, and I am deeply grateful to the many committed individuals and agencies that have worked together to accomplish this milestone.” CBS News
City of McKinney Mayor Bill Cox said, “The City of McKinney welcomes Avelo Airlines and the exciting new nonstop service it will provide from McKinney National Airport. As growth continues to reshape North Texas, McKinney is playing an increasingly important role in the region’s future. This new service reflects the demand for convenient air travel closer to home and reinforces McKinney’s position as a destination for residents, businesses, and investment.” CBS News
The launch also represents a significant milestone for North Texas as additional aviation capacity is introduced outside the region’s larger airports. By selecting McKinney National Airport as its newest operating base, Avelo Airlines has reinforced its strategy of serving smaller, more convenient airports that allow passengers to avoid congestion while benefiting from quicker journeys through the airport. CNN
Jobs and Economic Impact for Collin County
Beyond the flight schedule itself, the launch carries meaningful local economic implications for the McKinney area.
Avelo will base two Boeing 737-800 aircraft in McKinney, each seating about 184 passengers. The airline also expects to create more than 100 local jobs, including pilots, flight attendants, aircraft technicians, and airport staff. Job listings and hiring information will be posted on Avelo’s website, along with upcoming job fairs at aveloair.com. aol
Service begins on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11, with nonstop flights to Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS) and four Florida cities: Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Fort Myers (RSW), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA). The flights will operate on 184-seat Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 jet aircraft based at DTX and the service will create more than 100 new local jobs with the Texas-based airline. CBS News
Levy says McKinney could see additional routes in the future, depending on demand. “We are very optimistic about the opportunities we have in McKinney and so we think there are a lot of markets that work from there, but you gotta start somewhere,” the CEO said. Levy also emphasized the airline’s focus on convenience and smaller airports. “This is a small, easy-to-use little airport, and I’ve never met anybody who preferred to go to a big airport when they can fly out of a small airport.” aol
Avelo’s Broader Network: A Difficult Year of Reshuffling
The McKinney launch arrives at the end of a turbulent period for Avelo that included significant route cuts and base closures elsewhere in the country.
Avelo Airlines has had a turbulent past year. The ultra-low-cost carrier made all the wrong headlines when it signed up to conduct ICE deportation flights, which it has now discontinued, and its network overreach became apparent as it moved to slash its West Coast operations in the back half of last year. The net result has been extensive network rationalization by the airline as it entered 2026. abc7
When comparing its Summer 2026 schedule to last year, the carrier has shed 50 routes, including the scrapping of all of its international flights. The biggest impact to the network was the shuttering of its North Carolina bases at Wilmington International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in March. abc7
Today Avelo serves 37 popular destinations across the United States, including its bases at Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport, the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley’s Wilmington Airport, Central Florida’s Lakeland International Airport, Charlotte’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, and, in November 2026, Collin County’s McKinney National Airport, marking the airline’s fifth operating base. CBS News
Latest Update: A Strategic Reset, Not Just an Expansion
The Avelo Airlines McKinney National Airport launch should be understood as part of a broader corporate strategy rather than an isolated market entry.
Avelo summed up its decision by citing its preparations for new Embraer aircraft. “These changes enable Avelo to focus on sustainably scaling five core bases in 2026 and to prepare the company for growth in the coming years, facilitated by the company’s recent order for up to 100 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft.” Later this year, Avelo also plans to create a new base at McKinney National Airport in Dallas. TKI is a bet on the expansion of commercial operations in the massive North Texas catchment area, where a new terminal is under construction, giving Avelo a first-mover advantage. abc7
Avelo stands out as one of the leading U.S. airlines in on-time performance and reliability, reported by Anuvu, a third-party data platform. The airline has a growing fleet of 16 Boeing Next Generation 737 aircraft. In 2028, Avelo will be the first US airline to fly the Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, a new mainline jet with 140 seats in a 2×2 configuration where no one ever has a middle seat. CBS News
For full coverage of the McKinney launch, follow Dallas News, KSNV Las Vegas, and WFAA.
Broader Implications: Why North Texas Is the Right Bet for Avelo
The Avelo Airlines McKinney National Airport launch reflects a deliberate strategic recalibration after a turbulent year that saw the airline shed 50 routes and pull entirely out of its West Coast operations.
Rather than chasing further national expansion across an oversaturated low-cost airline market, Avelo has narrowed its focus to five core operating bases and is placing a significant bet on North Texas, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the country. McKinney’s population growth, combined with a brand-new passenger terminal funded through years of municipal planning, gives Avelo a genuine first-mover advantage in a market that has not previously had its own dedicated commercial air service.
For Collin County residents who have historically had to drive to DFW International or Dallas Love Field for commercial flights, the prospect of flying directly out of a small, congestion-free local airport represents a meaningful convenience improvement, one that mirrors the underserved-market strategy that has defined Avelo’s business model since its 2021 launch.
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What Happens Next
The first Avelo flights from McKinney National Airport depart on November 11, 2026, beginning with the Fort Myers route, followed by Las Vegas and Orlando on November 12, and Fort Lauderdale and Tampa on November 19. McKinney’s new passenger terminal is scheduled to open alongside the inaugural flights. Bookings made through July 2026 include a free checked bag, and job listings for the more than 100 local positions Avelo expects to create will be posted on the airline’s website ahead of the launch.
FAQ
When does Avelo Airlines start flying from McKinney National Airport?
Avelo Airlines begins commercial service from McKinney National Airport on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Fort Myers flights start that day, Las Vegas and Orlando flights begin November 12, and Fort Lauderdale and Tampa service launches November 19.
Where does Avelo Airlines fly from McKinney National Airport?
Avelo Airlines offers five nonstop routes from McKinney National Airport: Las Vegas, Nevada, and four Florida destinations including Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa. The routes vary in weekly frequency, ranging from twice weekly to five times weekly depending on the destination.
How much do Avelo Airlines McKinney National Airport flights cost?
Introductory one-way fares from McKinney National Airport start at $99. Travelers who book through July 2026 also receive their first checked bag free, an added incentive for early bookings ahead of the November launch.
How many jobs will Avelo Airlines create at McKinney National Airport?
Avelo Airlines expects to create more than 100 local jobs at McKinney National Airport, including positions for pilots, flight attendants, aircraft technicians, and airport staff. Job listings and information about upcoming job fairs will be posted on Avelo’s official website ahead of the launch.
Why is McKinney National Airport significant for Avelo Airlines?
McKinney National Airport becomes Avelo’s fifth operating base and the first time Collin County, Texas, has had scheduled commercial passenger air service. The launch coincides with the opening of a brand-new passenger terminal that city and airport officials have been planning since 2019, positioning Avelo as the first carrier to commit to the facility’s expanded commercial operations.
Sources and References
- Dallas News (original submission, blocked): https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/article/avelo-airlines-mckinney-national-airport-flights-22325785.php
- KSNV / News 3 Las Vegas (fully accessed): https://news3lv.com/news/local/low-cost-airline-avelo-returns-to-las-vegas-with-flights-to-texas
- WFAA (original submission, partially blocked, recovered via search): https://www.wfaa.com/article/travel/avelo-announces-first-5-nonstop-destinations-including-vegas-florida-mckinney-national-airport/287-1e7b8d81-33e4-47a9-9c46-1ee10cd8d654
