Airline route network update brings new options for travelers

Quick summary

Avelo Airlines will add two Florida destinations from McKinney National Airport (DTX) in December 2026, taking its North Texas network to 11 nonstop routes. Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) launches December 16 with twice-weekly flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays; West Palm Beach follows December 17, operating Thursdays and Sundays. Introductory one-way fares start at $69.

Both new Florida routes fly only twice a week, so return dates are limited. Avelo also lifts McKinney–Las Vegas to six weekly flights for the holiday peak.

Avelo Airlines is betting that North Texas travelers would rather skip the drive to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The carrier confirmed on October 15 that it will fly from McKinney National Airport to Sarasota/Bradenton from December 16 and to West Palm Beach from December 17, with introductory one-way fares starting at $69.

Both routes will operate twice weekly — Sarasota on Wednesdays and Saturdays, West Palm Beach on Thursdays and Sundays. The additions lift Avelo’s DTX network to 11 nonstop destinations, all launched within about five weeks of the airport’s first Avelo departure on November 11.

For Collin County residents, the pitch is convenience: a short drive to McKinney instead of a longer haul to DFW, plus nonstop access to Florida’s Gulf Coast and Palm Beach County. The trade-off is schedule density. Neither new route flies daily, and travelers who need a specific return date may find the calendar unforgiving. Avelo is not chasing business flyers here; it is chasing leisure demand.

The December additions extend that strategy deeper into Florida, on both coasts.

What Avelo’s McKinney expansion adds in December

The two December routes fill gaps on opposite sides of Florida. Sarasota/Bradenton serves the Gulf Coast south of Tampa, while West Palm Beach covers the state’s southeastern coast north of Fort Lauderdale.

Avelo’s company announcement confirms the Sarasota service will run Wednesdays and Saturdays, with West Palm Beach on Thursdays and Sundays. The carrier’s new-routes page lists both as announced October 15.

Those December flights arrive on top of a busy fall. The City of McKinney’s launch schedule shows Fort Myers (RSW) starting November 11, Las Vegas (LAS) and Orlando (MCO) on November 12, and Tampa (TPA) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on November 19.

Flight times are short by Florida standards. McKinney’s published figures put DTX–Fort Myers at about 2 hours 32 minutes, Orlando at 2 hours 30 minutes, Tampa at 2 hours 22 minutes, and Fort Lauderdale at 2 hours 45 minutes.

Las Vegas gets the biggest frequency boost.

Avelo will run six flights per week between McKinney and Las Vegas during the peak holiday season, up from the initial schedule. Introductory fares on new routes are usually capacity-limited and disappear once the first seats sell; Air Traveler Club’s airline promo monitoring tracks when carriers open and close these campaigns.

CEO Andrew Levy attributed the build-out to sustained North Texas demand, noting the carrier will serve 11 nonstop routes from DTX.

Why McKinney’s model trades frequency for convenience

Avelo is not trying to build a connecting hub at McKinney. The carrier’s DTX network is point-to-point: every route starts or ends in North Texas, and none of them feed a larger connecting bank.

That shapes what travelers get. Nonstop flights from a smaller airport cut ground time and parking costs, but they come with thinner schedules. Twice-weekly service means a Wednesday departure may pair only with a Saturday return — a real constraint for anyone booking around school calendars or work. For a family of four, that mismatch can mean an extra hotel night.

Competitively, the routes put pressure on leisure fares between North Texas and Florida, where DFW offers far more daily departures but also more connection options and higher parking costs. Avelo’s answer is price and proximity rather than choice.

For travelers, the practical question is total cost, not headline fare.

How to book the new McKinney routes

Both December routes fly only twice a week, so the calendar — not the fare — is the first thing to check.

• Check the operating days first. Sarasota flies Wednesdays and Saturdays; West Palm Beach flies Thursdays and Sundays. If your trip needs a Tuesday or Friday return, these routes won’t work.
• Compare the full fare, not the $69 headline. Avelo’s base fare excludes bags and seat selection. Price the complete trip at aveloair.com against a DFW alternative before deciding.
• Book early for the holiday Las Vegas bump. Six weekly DTX–LAS flights cover the peak period, but those seats will move fast around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Factor in ground costs. McKinney’s parking and drive times differ from DFW’s; for some households the savings disappear once those are counted.

Watch: Avelo’s next schedule filing will show whether either Florida route moves beyond twice weekly for spring 2027.

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