On Tuesdays, the new four-gate terminal at 1910 FM 546 has no Avelo departures. On Thursdays and Sundays it has the most, with seven of its eleven destinations listed. No route in between runs daily. That weekly pattern is the most useful thing a McKinney traveler can learn about McKinney National Airport, because a trip from DTX starts with the days the flights run.
Avelo's first scheduled departure, a Veterans Day flight to Fort Myers, was set for Wednesday, Nov. 11. Las Vegas and Orlando start today, Thursday, Nov. 12. Fort Lauderdale and Tampa follow on Nov. 19. Six more destinations are scheduled to start Dec. 16 and 17.
The Week at DTX, Day by Day
Avelo announced its McKinney routes in three releases between June and October, and each one listed its own route start dates and service days. Combined into one week, the schedule looks like this:
| Day | Destinations with listed service |
|---|---|
| Monday | Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Denver, Atlanta |
| Tuesday | None |
| Wednesday | Fort Myers, Denver, Atlanta, Sarasota/Bradenton, Las Vegas during the holiday season |
| Thursday | Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, New Orleans, Nashville, West Palm Beach |
| Friday | Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Denver, Atlanta |
| Saturday | Fort Myers, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, Atlanta, Sarasota/Bradenton, Las Vegas during the holiday season |
| Sunday | Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, New Orleans, Nashville, West Palm Beach |
Orlando and Fort Lauderdale have the most service, five days a week. Las Vegas started at four days a week. Avelo then added Wednesday and Saturday flights for the peak holiday travel season, which brings it to six. Tampa, Denver and Atlanta each run four days a week. The other five routes run twice a week.
Avelo covers all eleven routes with three 184-seat Boeing 737-800s based at DTX.
Twice-Weekly Routes Decide How Long the Trip Is
On the five-day routes, you can pick nearly any trip length. On the twice-weekly routes, you have only a few options. Using the service days Avelo lists for each route:
- Fort Myers and Sarasota/Bradenton run Wednesdays and Saturdays. That allows a midweek trip from Wednesday to Saturday, a longer stay from Saturday to Wednesday, or a full week from Saturday to Saturday.
- New Orleans, Nashville and West Palm Beach run Thursdays and Sundays. That allows a long weekend from Thursday to Sunday, a workweek trip from Sunday to Thursday, or a full week on either day.
- Denver and Atlanta run Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. A Friday-to-Monday weekend works. So does a short Monday-to-Wednesday business trip.
A Nashville weekend from McKinney is Thursday to Sunday, and a Sarasota beach week ends on a Wednesday or a Saturday. When you're working out time off or matching schedules with family, the route chart narrows the choices before you even look at fares. Check the current schedule on AveloAir.com before you commit. The airport says flight times can change because of weather, air traffic control and aircraft readiness.
Where the Holidays Land on That Grid
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, one of the busiest days on the DTX chart. Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa all list Thursday service, and Fort Lauderdale and Tampa will have been flying for a week by then. If you're staying in town that weekend, Downtown McKinney's 46th annual Home for the Holidays runs Nov. 27 through 29 around the square at 111 N. Tennessee. The tree lighting is Friday at 6:15 p.m. According to North Texas e-News, the City has added a shuttle from City Hall for all three days, which it marks as new for 2026.
The December launches fall about a week before Christmas. Denver, Atlanta and Sarasota/Bradenton start Wednesday, Dec. 16. New Orleans, Nashville and West Palm Beach start Thursday, Dec. 17. That gives each new route a full weekly cycle before the holiday, and it opens Atlanta and Denver as the first non-leisure-market options out of McKinney. In a Sept. 24 Avelo release, DTX Director of Aviation Ken Carley pointed to "how easy it will be to travel from their hometown airport during the upcoming holidays and beyond."
Getting There, and What Parking Costs Next to DFW and Love Field
The airport recommends arriving 90 minutes before departure. That allows for traffic on the airport roads at peak commute times, drivers who don't know the route yet, and time to park. Avelo requires checked bags at the ticket counter at least 40 minutes before departure.
According to the airport's directions page, drivers coming from the north take US 380 to Airport Drive, then Harry McKillop Boulevard. From the south, take SH 5 to Harry McKillop Boulevard. Expect more work on FM 546 in the coming months. Collin County's roadway project list shows utility relocation underway on Phase I, from CR 393 to US 380, with construction tentatively starting by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
DTX has a single 980-space lot across from the terminal, with EV chargers and no shuttle. Parking costs $15 for anywhere from two to 24 hours. The airport says that rate costs less than other North Texas airports. Here is how it compares with current official daily rates at the other two:
| Airport and lot | Daily rate |
|---|---|
| DTX main lot | $15 |
| DFW Terminal | $37 with TollTag, $40 by card |
| DFW Express Covered | $23 with TollTag, $25 by card |
| DFW Express Uncovered | $20 with TollTag, $22 by card |
| DFW Remote | $14 with TollTag, $16 by card |
| Love Field Garage A | $24 |
| Love Field Garages B and C, covered | $21 |
| Love Field Garage C, Premium level | $30 |
| Love Field valet | $35 |
DFW's rates have been in effect since Oct. 1, 2026. Compared with DFW's terminal garages, DTX costs less than half, and it is cheaper than every garage at Love Field. DFW Remote is the closest match. It costs about the same and is $1 cheaper per day with a TollTag. The bigger difference is the walk. At DTX the lot is across the street from the gates. On a week-long Sarasota trip, the same $15 a day comes with a short walk and a drive that stays in Collin County.
The DTX lot is ticketless. You scan the Tap 'n Fly QR code in the lot or terminal, register your plate and phone number, and pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. The gate charges you automatically when you leave. Intercoms at every entry and exit kiosk connect to live support around the clock. Uber, Lyft and local ground transportation providers can also operate at the terminal.
Inside a 46,000-Square-Foot Terminal
The building opened at a smaller scale than first planned. In 2023, McKinney voters rejected a $200 million bond proposition that would have helped fund the airport expansion. The city went ahead with a $79 million, four-gate terminal paid for with local funds and grants, and the design leaves room to expand. Community Impact covered the Nov. 6 ribbon cutting, where Mayor Bill Cox told the crowd, "Be proud of it. This is our airport."
What to expect inside, according to the airport's passenger guide:
- Food: for now, an interim kiosk with snacks and drinks and vending machines for travel essentials, all in the gate area. A full-service concession and bar with grab-and-go food is listed as coming soon.
- Power and Wi-Fi: free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, and free charging ports built into the gate seating.
- Families: family restrooms at the gates and next to bag claim, plus a room for nursing parents in the gate area.
- Pets: a pet relief area at the gates, inside the secure side of the terminal.
- Rental cars: Enterprise has a counter in the terminal and a return lot right outside.
- Security: TSA screening requires a REAL ID or valid passport, and the fee-based TSA ConfirmID is another option.
Look up on the way in and out. Austin-based artist Mila Sketch painted a mural on the masonry wall near the entrance to the rental car counters. She used more than 40 colors over six weeks. In baggage claim, Dallas-based artist Alec DeJesus covered the north wall with a mural of people walking with their suitcases and travel bags.
A hometown airport also changes the trip for people coming to see you. Starting in mid-December, relatives in Nashville or Denver can fly straight into McKinney, and a house-hunting weekend can be booked to start on a Thursday. If you're planning a visit for family, or a move that starts with one of these flights, Sandy Mozur knows the area around FM 546 and can help you plan the visit. Let's Connect.
