The date is finally set. McKinney National Airport opens its brand new commercial passenger terminal on November 11, 2026, and the first flight out is an Avelo departure to Fort Myers, Florida.
We have been tracking this project since the groundbreaking because it changes the math for anyone buying a home in Collin County. Here is what is confirmed, what it means for nearby neighborhoods, and why buyers are paying attention right now.
What is opening
The airport is opening a 46,000 square foot passenger terminal with 4 gates, expandable to 6 as demand grows. It becomes the third commercial airport in the Dallas Fort Worth region and the first commercial airport in Collin County.
Commercial flights get a brand new airport code: DTX. That is the code you will see on your boarding pass. TKI stays as the code pilots have used for general aviation here for decades.
Avelo Airlines is the launch carrier and is basing 3 Boeing 737 aircraft right here in McKinney. Service runs Wednesday through Monday.
Where you can fly nonstop from day one
Nine nonstop destinations, rolling out in phases:
- November 11: Fort Myers
- November 12: Las Vegas and Orlando
- November 19: Tampa and Fort Lauderdale
- December 16: Atlanta and Denver
- December 17: Nashville and New Orleans
Avelo advertised promo one way fares starting at 99 dollars when the routes were announced.
The airport projects about 200,000 passengers in its first year of commercial service, growing toward 1 million a year by about 2031. The expanded operation is expected to create more than 150 local jobs, and the airport director has projected economic impact near 1 billion dollars a year for the region.
What this means if you are buying a home nearby
Airports reshape the towns around them. Here is the honest version.
East McKinney sits closest to the terminal. If you want the shortest drive to DTX, start there. Our McKinney relocation guide walks through costs, neighborhoods, schools, and commute facts.
Princeton is about a 20 minute drive east on US 380, and it is the fastest growing city in the area. Buyers get new construction at prices that run well under McKinney, with the tradeoff of a longer commute. We wrote an honest buyer look at Princeton with the real numbers and the real tradeoffs.
And US 380 itself is the corridor to watch. The planned US 380 bypass will reshape how the whole east side of McKinney connects to Princeton and beyond. We explained the bypass in plain English, including what is funded and what is still years out.
Our full breakdown of homes near McKinney National Airport ties all of this together: which towns fit which buyers, and what to verify before you buy near a growing airport.
Why the timing matters
Right now, you can still buy near the airport before the terminal opens. Once commercial flights start and the jobs follow, the secret is out. That does not mean prices jump overnight, but it does mean more buyers competing for the same new construction.
If McKinney, Princeton, or the 380 corridor is on your short list, the next few weeks are a smart time to get serious. Book a free North Texas Family Move Strategy Call and we will run your numbers against the neighborhoods that fit your life.
Luke Jones, REALTOR, eXp Realty, Texas license #793146
TREC Information About Brokerage Services: https://movingtonorthtexastx.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/iabs-luke-jones-2026.pdf
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