The Federal Aviation Administration issued an operating certificate to McKinney National Airport, designated as DTX, on Thursday. This marks the first new commercial airport certification granted in Texas in over two decades. The approval permits the facility to commence commercial passenger operations upon its scheduled opening in November.
Avelo Airlines is set to be the primary carrier at the new facility, offering nine domestic routes. Four of these destinations were announced alongside the certification news: Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Nashville, Tennessee; and New Orleans, Louisiana. The remaining routes include Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, and Tampa in Florida, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada.
Andrew Levy, the chief executive officer of Avelo Airlines, characterized the airport’s smaller scale as a significant benefit for travelers. "Big airports like DFW are phenomenal airports," Levy said. "You can get anywhere in the world out of there.
But it's big, long lines, long walks, lots of traffic to get there. This, on the other hand, is an easy-to-use, convenient airport for those who it's accessible to."
