McKinney is officially on the runway to commercial air service. The city council approved a pivotal construction agreement that sets in motion the next phase of development at McKinney National Airport — marking a milestone years in the making.
Green Light For Terminal Construction
In a unanimous vote, the council authorized the city manager to move forward with Swinerton as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), a move that allows the city to collaborate directly with builders during the design process while locking in construction costs early. The result: reduced financial risk, tighter timelines and a lower burden on local taxpayers.
The upcoming construction will bring critical infrastructure to McKinney’s eastside, including a new commercial terminal building, aircraft parking, a taxiway connector and necessary utilities.
What To Expect
The project will include the following project elements:
- An approximate 30,000-square-foot passenger terminal (size may vary depending on tenant requirements)
- An approximately 1,500-passenger vehicle revenue-controlled parking lot
- Vehicle support space for emergency services
- Tenant material and equipment storage containers
- Aircraft deicing pad
- Aircraft refueling operations on the apron
- Two 30,000-gallon Jet-A above-ground fuel tanks
- Utility infrastructure (for example, water, sanitary sewer, storm drain) to support the facility on a lot of approximately 60 acres
A Vision Years in the Making
“We are cleared for takeoff,” said Mayor George Fuller in an official statement. “This project has been years in the making, and now, with this milestone, McKinney is positioned to deliver the convenience of commercial air service to our community and region. We’re building more than a terminal, we’re building opportunity for the future.”
The terminal is a key part of the city council’s long-term strategy to unlock the full potential of McKinney National Airport. The project also gained traction thanks to recent financial backing from the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and the McKinney Community Development Corporation, which have committed funds to help support the terminal’s infrastructure needs.
A Growing Economic Engine
Currently, the airport contributes over $299 million annually to the local economy, according to a 2024 economic impact report. That number is projected to climb to $400 million annually with the addition of commercial service, boosting jobs, tourism and long-term growth.
Construction on the terminal is expected to begin in June 2025, with commercial flights projected to launch in late 2026.
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