Just prior to Avelo Airlines’ launch of flights operating from McKinney International Airport (DTX), the airline announced two additional routes from DTX. Avelo’s network expansion will involve services to two additional airports in Florida: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and West Palm Beach’s Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT). These services will start in mid-December, and both will be non-stop services from McKinney.
Avelo Expands Its Network and Announces Further McKinney Services
Avelo Airlines has confirmed that it will be expanding its network and operating two additional services to Florida from McKinney International Airport (DTX) that are scheduled to begin in December.
The first route will be to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), located on the west coast of Florida. The route will be added to Avelo’s services on Dec. 16, and from then on operate every Wednesday and Saturday.
The second route will be to Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT) in West Palm Beach, on the eastern coast of Florida. The route will be operated by Avelo from Dec. 17, and flights will continue to operate every Thursday and Sunday.
This takes Avelo Airlines’ network to 11 nonstop routes from McKinney; the first flight from DTX is set to take off on Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day in the United States and thus typically a significant travel day in the country, and will fly to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers.
From then onwards, Avelo is due to launch several services from DTX. Flights to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Tampa (TPA), and Orlando (MCO) will round out the airline’s Florida operations.
In December, Avelo will begin flying to New Orleans (MSY), Atlanta (ATL), Denver (DEN), and Nashville (BNA) to expand its wider domestic network.
In addition to this, Avelo Airlines has announced it intends to increase its services from McKinney to Las Vegas (LAS) in peak travel periods. It will increase its operations to six flights per week, which will mean that aside from Tuesdays, a flight between DTX and LAS will be operated every day of the week.
Avelo Airlines: What You Need to Know
Avelo Airlines is a low-cost airline based in Houston, Texas. Previously, it operated charter flights as Casino Express Airlines and Xtra Airways before rebranding as Avelo Airlines in 2021.
The airline’s first flight as Avelo was on April. 21, 2021, from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in Burbank, California, to Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County (STS) in Sonoma, California.
In 2025, the airline found itself shrouded in controversy after signing an agreement for a long-term charter program flying for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as ICE. To “support the department’s deportation efforts”, Avelo opened a new base out of Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) where “removal” flights would commence.
Avelo Airlines, alongside CEO and founder Andrew Levy, faced significant criticism from city councillors after Avelo removed its services from their regions in order to support ICE operations. Most notably, the mayor of New Haven, Justin Elicker, where Avelo had its largest base, signed a petition criticising the decision and would later go on to prohibit the use of public funds for travel on Avelo Airlines due to its profiteering on “inhumane” immigration policies.
As a result of both the controversy the airline found itself in due to this agreement, as well as market conditions as cited by the company, Avelo Airlines announced it would cease all operations on the West Coast by December of 2025.
Consequently, Avelo Airlines’ return to the West Coast with its new services from McKinney International Airport is a significant step in the airline’s development and network expansion.
Andrew Levy celebrated the launch of new services from McKinney, stating:
“North Texas continues to show up for Avelo. With two new Florida destinations in West Palm Beach and Sarasota-Bradenton, we’ll now serve 11 nonstop routes from DTX. We’re also growing our Las Vegas service to six weekly flights to meet strong demand. Our low fares, the size and convenience of DTX, and our consistent industry-leading on-time performance are a winning combination for travellers.”
What do you think of Avelo’s network expansion and new routes to Florida? Let us know in the comments.
All isn’t rosy with Avelo Airlines and McKinney residents. Local politicians FORCED the airport down voter’s throats despite VOTERS TWICE REJECTING airport bond issues. This is one reason a recall movement is underway regarding Mayor Bill Cox & City Council members Ernest Lynch, Geré Feltus & Justin Beller. Their arrogance and that of former mayor George Fuller—who also is a major construction contractor and developer—cannot be ignored. Their actions, and revelations about Avelo’s record of leaving communities after short periods of time despite receiving public subsidies, are explained in “Texas: McKinney Residents Justified in Opposing Airport Expansion.”