Avelo Airlines opened its fifth US base at McKinney National Airport (DTX) on November 11, 2026, with a flight to Fort Myers, Florida. It was the first scheduled passenger flight from the Dallas-area airport, where Avelo plans to serve 11 nonstop destinations by December 17.
Avelo has based three 184-seat Boeing 737-800s at McKinney, accounting for about a fifth of its 17-aircraft fleet. The airline expects the base to support 150 jobs for pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and airport staff.
McKinney had served general aviation for more than 40 years before Avelo Flight 1848 departed for Fort Myers. The city broke ground on a passenger terminal in summer 2025 and opened it the morning of the inaugural flight. The 46,000-square-foot building has four gates and space for two more. Airport officials say it can handle more than 2 million passengers a year.
Avelo initially announced five destinations from McKinney in June 2026 and added six more before the first departure. Florida accounts for six of the 11 routes. Fort Myers has four flights a week, while Las Vegas and Orlando are scheduled for six each beginning November 12. Fort Lauderdale and Tampa follow on November 19.
The December schedule adds Atlanta, Denver and Sarasota/Bradenton on December 16. Nashville, New Orleans and West Palm Beach follow a day later, each with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.
Avelo laid out its plans for a North Texas base in January as part of a broader restructuring. At the time, the carrier announced it would close bases at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington, North Carolina, and concentrate flying at four existing bases until McKinney opened. It also announced plans to remove six smaller 737-700s as it shifted more flying to the 737-800.