By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
MCKINNEY — McKinney National Airport (TKI) has received the federal certification required to begin commercial passenger operations, less than seven weeks before its first scheduled airline flight.
Federal Aviation Administration officials presented the airport with its operating certificate Thursday inside McKinney’s new passenger terminal, where work continues ahead of the Nov. 11 start of service.
Ignacio Flores, director of the FAA Airports Southwest Region, called McKinney’s transition from a general aviation airport to a certificated commercial-service facility a “rare milestone.”
“To put it in perspective, in the state of Texas, the last time we issued an airport operating certificate was more than 20 years ago,” Flores said.
The certificate confirms the airport has met FAA safety and operational requirements for scheduled commercial service.
“Today marks a historic turning point for McKinney National Airport, the city of McKinney and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” Flores said.
Years of planning reach certification
Airport Director Kenneth Carley said the certification represents years of work by airport employees, city staff and federal officials.
“There are not a lot of airport directors that get an opportunity to do that in their career,” Carley said after accepting the certificate. “It’s a highlight of my career, honestly.”
The FAA has invested more than $9 million at McKinney National Airport for airfield safety-related projects, according to Flores. He cited work involving taxiways and runways, as well as equipment for the airport’s federal contract tower.
Commercial service begins Nov. 11 with Avelo Airlines as McKinney’s launch carrier.
Carley said the airport will have gone from starting construction on the terminal to welcoming its first passengers in roughly 18 months.
“Standing here today, less than seven weeks from the opening, brings into focus just how quickly this vision is becoming a reality,” Carley said.
Four gates at opening, six planned
The terminal will open with four boarding gates and is designed to handle up to 1 million passengers annually at full capacity.
Carley said the airport is preparing for additional capacity while trying to avoid building ahead of demand.
“What we’re trying to do is be positioned to respond to the demand, but also not overbuild on the front end,” Carley said during an interview following the event.
All six hold rooms inside the secured area are being built out, Carley said, but the aircraft apron will initially have parking positions for four gates. Expanding to six gates would require adding two more aircraft parking positions.
The airport also has additional land available for future development.
“We have land, hundreds of acres here on the east side, to expand as demand warrants,” Carley said.
He said that land could accommodate future commercial and general aviation development.
Airport sees market of more than 2 million people
Carley said the airport’s commercial-service catchment area includes more than 2 million people, many of whom currently travel south for commercial flights.
“There’s over two million inhabitants in this catchment area today that are driving, you know, 45 minutes south to get connectivity,” Carley said.
He said interest from airlines was one indication to airport officials that there was demand for commercial service in McKinney.
“I don’t think that anybody probably knows the opportunities in markets better than the airlines themselves,” Carley said. “So, I mean, for us, I think that was a strong signal that there was something here.”
Carley said city and airport officials spent significant time studying what would be required to obtain an operating certificate and launch commercial service, including the costs and potential benefits.
He also pointed to the size of North Texas, saying other U.S. markets of comparable size have multiple commercial airports.
What passengers will find Nov. 11
Work at the terminal is continuing ahead of opening day.
The airport is completing 980 public parking spaces near the terminal. Parking will use a contactless payment system and cost $15 per day.
Inside, crews are installing airline counter space and technology. Enterprise will provide rental-car service, and food, beverage and retail spaces are being finalized.
Two Texas-based artists are creating murals for the baggage claim and curbside areas.
Outside, construction is underway on Taxiway Charlie, which will connect the terminal ramp to the runway. Carley said a runway extension was also recently completed.
Carley said the airport plans to continue responding to demand as commercial operations begin.
“The airport has a good track record of responding to the demand, be it corporate or commercial service, over its history,” Carley said.
The first scheduled commercial flight from McKinney National Airport is set for Nov. 11.
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