Avelo Airlines is taking a step towards collaboration after the company signed a five year lease agreement with McKinney National Airport (TKI) in Dallas, Texas. The airport sought out the Houston based airline to make Avelo Airlines their first commercial passenger flight as part of the current lease agreement.
Commercial Purpose in Texas
The Use and Lease Agreement (ULA) worked out between the airport and the airline is to give the former a chance to unveil the terminal gates expansion the latter to take on scores of commercial passengers, with the intentions of both to accommodate these factors.
The five year agreement will not only set the precedents for Avelo’s use of the runways, taxiways, and administrative facilities it will also be at the airport’s liberty to set the fees for expenses accrued such as fuel consumption and booking seats for individual passengers.
Andrew Levy, the CEO and founder of Avelo Airlines issued a statement about the company’s objectives in light of the new agreement:
“We are very excited to be the launch airline at TKI. We believe that our everyday low fares, convenient and reliable service, combined with an easy-to-use, small airport, is a combination the residents of McKinney and North Texas will enthusiastically embrace.”
This comes after, and in spite of, the previous controversy that Avelo Airlines has faced in the past when in April 2025 they signed a contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to licence their aircraft for deportation flights.
Developments in Dallas
As these developments are in the early stages the construction work is set to continue throughout the new year, with the plan being total completion by the end of 2026, including a fully operational terminal to welcome passengers.
The Mayor of McKinney, Bill Cox, expressed his enthusiasm for the new lease agreement in a personal statement in which he said:
“We look forward to working with our airline partners in 2026 and beyond to bring air service to North Texas.”
The construction is being handled primarily by Garver, a consulting engineering contractor based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
What are your thoughts on this new expansion? Do you think it will be a draw for new commercial passengers? Let us know!
