Dallas Just Got Its Third Airport, and It’s Flying Nonstop to Vegas by November

Dallas just picked up a third commercial airport. On September 24, 2026 the Federal Aviation Administration granted McKinney National Airport a Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate — the safety clearance a field needs before it can legally sell you a plane ticket — and ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines starts flying out of it on November 11, with five nonstop routes already on sale.

Where is McKinney National Airport, and why does a certificate matter

McKinney National Airport (formerly Collin County Regional) sits about 30 miles northeast of downtown Dallas, and until this week it had never been cleared to handle a paying commercial passenger — it has operated as a general-aviation field for decades while North Texas grew up around it. The Part 139 certificate the FAA issued on September 24 is the same category of approval every major US airline hub holds, and it makes McKinney the first airport in Texas to earn one since 2005. The city is backing the launch with a new $72 million passenger terminal — 45,000 square feet with three gates built to expand to five, plus 1,500 parking spaces — going up on the airport’s east side.

Which flights take off first, and when

Avelo’s first flights out of McKinney depart November 11, to Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa. Four more nonstop routes follow in mid-December — Denver and Atlanta on December 16, New Orleans and Nashville on December 17 — bringing the airline’s McKinney network to nine cities and a third Boeing 737-800 based permanently at the field.

Why did certification take until now, and what did the FAA actually check

A Part 139 certificate is not a formality. The FAA only issues one after an airport proves its runway and taxiway pavement, aircraft rescue and firefighting service, wildlife hazard management, emergency planning and staff training all meet federal standards — the same checklist that governs O’Hare or LAX, just scaled to a smaller field. The agency has also put more than $9 million of its own money into McKinney’s infrastructure, funding taxiway construction and an upgrade to the airport’s federal contract tower. “The community around McKinney is growing rapidly, and accommodating commercial flights will provide the community with greater access to air travel options,” said FAA Associate Administrator Dan Edwards.

What this means if you’re booking a flight out of Dallas this winter

What this means for you

As an ultra-low-cost carrier, Avelo prices the base fare low and charges separately for a carry-on, a seat assignment and priority boarding — add those up before comparing the sticker price against Dallas-Fort Worth or Dallas Love Field. The passenger terminal is still finishing construction, so build in extra time around your connection until the airport has a full season of real operations behind it. If a longer-haul trip is further down your list — a Nepal trek among them — the new Denver nonstop lines up with several one-stop connections toward Kathmandu, and it’s worth pricing that leg separately rather than assuming the cheapest McKinney fare is automatically the cheapest way to get there.

Common questions about McKinney National Airport

Is McKinney National Airport different from DFW and Dallas Love Field?

Yes. McKinney is a separate, smaller field about 30 miles northeast of downtown Dallas that has only handled general aviation until now. DFW and Love Field keep their existing full-service and Southwest-heavy schedules; McKinney adds a third, budget-focused option for North Texas travelers.

What kind of airline is Avelo, and is it reliable?

Avelo Airlines is a US ultra-low-cost carrier that has flown scheduled routes since 2021. Basing a third Boeing 737-800 at McKinney specifically for this launch is the airline’s own signal that it expects the routes to hold, rather than testing the market for a season and pulling out.

Will more airlines or routes come to McKinney?

Nothing else is confirmed yet. Avelo is the only announced carrier, and the nine routes launching by mid-December are the full published schedule so far; the terminal’s extra gate capacity leaves room for more if demand holds up through the winter.

Cover photo: John Hill via Pexels (Pexels License). Section photos: Theodore Nguyen via Pexels (Pexels licence); David Kwewum via Pexels (Pexels licence); Josh Withers via Pexels (Pexels licence); Keegan Checks via Pexels (Pexels licence); Garrison Gao via Pexels (Pexels licence).