Avelo McKinney Flights Near Launch as City Adds Airline Support, Food and Rental Cars

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

With Avelo’s first McKinney flights a little more than a month away, the City Council approved additional airline support space, a terminal food vendor and Enterprise rental-car service Monday. Airport staff also warned the food concession may not be operating by the first flight.

The largest of the three airport items adds $400,000 to the terminal construction scope for a roughly 4,000-square-foot airline support building, terminal concession space and Avelo offices and storage. Airport Director Ken Carley said the work had been part of the original project but was removed earlier as the city worked to align the project with preliminary cost estimates. No new project funding is being requested.

“This is infrastructure that Avelo Airlines really needs to operate the way they intend to operate here,” Carley told the council.

Carley said Avelo will base Boeing 737 aircraft in McKinney, with those planes starting and ending their days at the airport.

“Their mechanics will maintain those aircraft on the apron,” he said.

The support building will provide parts storage and administrative space for mechanics, along with restrooms for employees working in the secured area.

$400,000 restores previously removed work

The terminal project was approved in 2025 with a guaranteed maximum price of just under $58 million. It includes a roughly 46,000-square-foot terminal, four aircraft parking positions, about 980 vehicle parking spaces, a fuel farm and aircraft deicing infrastructure.

Carley said the work approved Monday had originally been part of the project but was removed earlier as costs were being evaluated.

“We’re really talking about restoring scope,” Carley said.

The city plans to pay for the additional work through contractor and owner contingencies and savings realized during construction. Carley said a little more than $1 million would remain unencumbered after the amendment.

Food concession may not be ready for first flight

Council also approved Creative Hospitality Solutions LLC to operate the terminal’s food and beverage concession under the name Square and Sky, a nod to McKinney’s downtown square. Airport staff said the concept will include local coffee, food sources and McKinney-themed merchandise.

Assistant City Manager Barry Shelton said the city’s first solicitation drew only two responses at a time when Avelo’s schedule had not yet been released. Neither proposal met what the city wanted, including one that was more of an app-based ordering system than a traditional food operation.

After Avelo announced routes, the city received eight proposals and narrowed the field to two finalists.

Shelton said the city wanted what he called a “McKinney front door concessionaire,” but warned the selected vendor may not be ready when commercial service begins.

“Even with approval tonight, we’re going to be hard pressed getting them operating by the first flight,” Shelton told the council.

The airport is planning for 32 departing flights per week, with some mornings followed by three- or four-hour gaps in activity. Shelton said staffing around those uneven passenger periods was one of the issues discussed with bidders.

Square and Sky is expected to offer coffee, alcoholic beverages, hot prepared foods and prepackaged items. The terminal will also have three vending machines on the secure side and two near baggage claim.

Enterprise coming to the terminal

Council separately approved an agreement with Enterprise Mobility to provide rental-car service inside the commercial terminal.

Enterprise has provided vehicles through McKinney Air Center on the airport’s general aviation side for years.

The agreement has an initial two-year term with two one-year renewal options. Enterprise will pay the city 10% of gross receipts and lease half of the terminal counter space reserved for rental-car companies, along with a small adjacent office area.

The terminal was designed with room for two rental-car operators. Airport staff said the city could seek a second company as passenger activity grows.

Avelo service begins next month

Avelo is scheduled to begin commercial service from McKinney on Nov. 11, with the airline basing aircraft at the airport and operating 32 departing flights per week under the current schedule.

Carley said the aircraft will remain in McKinney overnight, with maintenance crews working on them at the airport. The support space approved Monday is intended to accommodate that operation as passenger service begins.