McKinney National Airport Starts Commercial Flights November 11. What It Means for Homeowners
When do commercial flights start at McKinney National Airport, and does it affect home values?
Avelo Airlines begins nonstop service from McKinney National Airport on November 11, 2026, flying to Las Vegas and four Florida airports: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Fort Myers. The new 46,000 square foot terminal opens with four gates, expandable to six, and is designed for about 200,000 passengers a year to start. For homeowners, the honest answer on values is that convenience helps and proximity to flight paths is a separate question. Both deserve a look before you buy or sell near the airport.
By Stacy Cate, Realtor | Compass RE Texas, LLC, September 29, 2026
For years, “the McKinney airport” meant private planes and flight schools.
That changes in November.
Here’s what’s actually confirmed, and the questions I’d want answered if you own or are buying a home anywhere near the field.
What’s opening, and when
McKinney National Airport’s first commercial terminal is a 46,000 square foot building with four gates that can expand to six. It’s built to handle roughly 200,000 passengers a year at the start, with room to grow well beyond that over time.
Avelo Airlines is the launch carrier and anchor tenant. Inaugural flights begin November 11, 2026, with nonstop service to Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Fort Myers. Avelo has said it will base two aircraft at the airport and add well over 100 local jobs.
The airport is also adding a 980 space public parking lot with its own access road off FM 546, along with concessions, onsite car rental and new taxiway work. The broader capital improvement program at the airport totals about $140 million, funded through sales tax revenue bonds from the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and the McKinney Community Development Corporation, along with tax increment financing, federal loans and airport revenues.
Why this matters for North Collin County
The practical benefit is time.
If you live in McKinney, Prosper, Celina or Melissa, getting to DFW International or Love Field for a 6 a.m. departure means leaving the house well before 4 a.m. A terminal fifteen or twenty minutes from home changes that math for a family trip to Orlando or a quick Vegas weekend.
That convenience is a real selling point, and it’s the kind of thing relocation buyers notice when they’re comparing North Dallas suburbs to other metros.
It also signals employer interest. Easier air access tends to support commercial investment over time, and commercial investment tends to support housing demand. That’s a slow effect, not an overnight one.
The part nobody advertises: flight paths and noise
Here’s what I’d want to know before buying close to the airport.
Ask where the approach and departure paths run relative to the specific address. Proximity to an airport is not one experience. A home under a departure corridor lives differently than a home the same distance away but off the path.
Ask about the volume expectation. Four gates and a couple of based aircraft is a different noise profile than a major hub, and the initial passenger target of roughly 200,000 a year is modest by comparison. Still, ask how that’s projected to grow.
Visit at different times. If a home is near the field, go see it in the morning and in the evening before you commit. That single hour tells you more than any map.
And if you’re selling near the airport, be ready to talk about this openly. Buyers will ask. A seller who knows the answer builds trust. A seller who deflects invites doubt.
How to use this if you’re buying or selling
If you’re buying in McKinney or the communities around it, convenient air service is a feature worth factoring into your long-term view of the area, alongside schools, commute and the trajectory of nearby commercial development.
If you’re selling, this belongs in your marketing when it’s true for your address. “Twenty minutes from nonstop flights to Orlando” is a concrete benefit for a family buyer, and it’s the kind of detail that makes a listing feel local rather than generic.
What I’d avoid is pricing a home today based on a value bump that hasn’t happened yet. Airports change an area over years. Your list price has to reflect what buyers will pay this month.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do commercial flights begin at McKinney National Airport? November 11, 2026, with Avelo Airlines as the launch carrier.
Where can I fly nonstop from McKinney? Avelo’s announced nonstop destinations are Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Fort Myers.
How big is the new terminal? It’s 46,000 square feet with four gates, expandable to six, designed for roughly 200,000 passengers a year initially with capacity to serve far more over time.
Is there parking at the new terminal? Yes. The airport built a 980 space public lot with a dedicated access road off FM 546.
Will the airport raise home values in McKinney? Convenient air service is generally viewed as an amenity, but the effect on any individual home depends on location, flight paths and the broader market. It’s a factor to weigh, not a guaranteed premium.
The bottom line
Nonstop flights fifteen minutes from home is a real quality of life change for North Collin County families. Whether it’s a plus for a specific address depends on where that address sits.
Get the Buyer’s Guide, or send me an address you’re considering near the airport and we’ll look at it together.
About Stacy Cate Stacy Cate is a Realtor with Compass RE Texas, LLC, serving North DFW’s luxury and lifestyle homes across Prosper, Celina, McKinney, Frisco and the lake markets of Bois d’Arc Lake and Lake Texoma. With 30+ years of local roots, deep community ties and CNE, CLHMS, SRES and NHSAC designations, Stacy guides clients, especially those navigating legacy transitions and life-stage moves, with clarity, privacy and heart.
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