The $79 million project to bring commercial air service to Collin County has faced opposition from taxpayers and neighbors over environmental concerns and a failed ballot initiative. Despite two failed bond elections for airport expansion, its growth has continued with the support of other state and local funds.
McKinney leaders say the passenger terminal project marks a “new era in North Texas aviation history,” according to a statement from the city. Officials hope the airport becomes a regional alternative to Dallas Love Field or DFW International Airport.
Here are the city’s plans for the new passenger terminal at McKinney National Airport, also known by its airport code TKI.
The terminal will be roughly 46,000 square feet with four gates and the capacity to expand to six gates.
Avelo Airlines has expressed interest in operating from TKI. The company intends to start with as many as three daily flights on Boeing 737 airplanes with a minimum capacity of 149 passengers, then increase service to an average of seven daily departures based on “expectations of a rapid increase in demand,” according to a letter sent from the company and obtained by The Dallas Morning News.
Those plans could change and are contingent on ongoing negotiations and approvals, according to the letter sent last fall.
Customer-facing features in the terminal include food and drink concessions, including quick-service options, and room for passengers to wait for their flight. The city also plans to build car rental facilities at the terminal.
The plans include a new taxiway and an aircraft ramp with space to park four commercial planes, with the ability to expand to six spaces.
The terminal will include a 980-space public parking lot, which can grow to 1,450 spaces, with an access road off FM 546.
The plans also include an area to remove ice and snow from planes in the winter, along with other utilities and infrastructure to support commercial air service.
The airport terminal is designed to initially serve 200,000 passengers annually; if expanded, it could support more than 1 million travelers a year, according to a city statement.
The city plans for the terminal to be completed as early as late next year.
