"For years we've watched planes take off from this airport, but soon we will begin bringing people and families home to McKinney," Former McKinney Mayor George Fuller said to a tent packed full of people. "It won't be just about travel, it'll be about moments that matter."
North Texas aviation made history on July 18, as McKinney city leaders broke ground on a new commercial passenger terminal at McKinney National Airport (TKI). For more than 40 years, TKI has served general aviation, but the airport is now stepping into a much bigger role: offering commercial airline service to a fast-growing region.
“Reunions, first adventures, goodbyes and new beginnings," Fuller said. "This terminal will carry the weight of those human stories for generations to come."
With the new mayor, Bill Cox, behind the controls, an excavator tipped its load of dirt onto the site — a heavy, satisfying start to the ceremony. Dignitaries followed with shovels, marking the beginning of McKinney National Airport’s move from private planes to passenger flights.
What The Terminal Will Deliver
Once completed in late 2026, TKI will become the third airport in North Texas with commercial flights, providing Collin County residents an alternative to the long drives to DFW or Dallas Love Field.
"This new terminal is not just an investment in McKinney, it’s an investment in the future of North Texas,” said Cox. “As our city has grown over the past two decades, we’ve focused on making smart, strategic investments that benefit our residents and the broader region.”
Designed by Dallas-based Corgan, the new 46,000-square-foot terminal promises a modern, easy-to-navigate experience. Features include:
- Four gates with room to expand to six
- Centralized food and beverage concessions
- Spacious seating areas
- Parking for up to six commercial aircraft
- 980-space public parking lot with capacity for 1,450 cars
- On-site car rentals and a dedicated deicing area for winter weather
- A new taxiway for smoother airfield operations
Once open, the terminal is expected to serve 200,000 passengers annually, with expansion potential for more than one million travelers a year. The project mirrors the city council’s vision for a future-ready airport that boosts mobility, drives economic growth and makes travel easier for families and businesses.
Engineering firm Garver and developer Swinerton will lead construction efforts. “Alongside the city we are building more than a structure — we are shaping McKinney for decades to come,” said Swinerton’s Dallas Division Manager Tyler Whittaker.
From Vision To Reality
Planning for this expansion began in 2019 and nearly fell apart in 2023 when McKinney residents voted against a $200 million bond meant to support the project. However, ongoing discussions between McKinney leaders and national airlines about launching new routes have revived the vision. The project is now strengthened by nearly $79 million in funding from a combination of city, state and economic development sources, including sales tax revenue bonds and grants from the Texas Department of Transportation.
“Our traveling community will soon have a modern and efficient gateway, saving them time, money and hassle, and which they can proudly call their hometown airport,” said Airport Director Ken Carley
What's Next?
Former Mayor George Fuller put it simply: “I don’t know where the first flight will be going, but you can bet yourself that I will be on it.”
And what about Mayor Cox? Where will he head when the gates open? “Somewhere it’s cooler than here,” he told Local Profile with a laugh.
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