McKinney Airport Hoping to Go Commercial

Thanks to a population boom in Collin County, McKinney town leaders think it’s time to go big. The City of McKinney leaders want to ask residents to finance a new terminal at McKinney National Airport, with hopes of attracting a commercial carrier. And not just any low-cost carrier. They want a major carrier.

McKinney Mayor George Fuller says nearby Love Field and DFW both have their limitations, “There is a market today for a third airport in our region. There are many regions in this country with similar demographics, with similar populations, and they’re supporting three or five airports.”

After adding 609,900 residents since 2000, the 1.1 million people in Collin County make it bigger than metropolitan areas such as Tulsa, Okla., Omaha, Neb., and Honolulu.

Under the plan, a commercial terminal could open as early as 2026. It could cost upwards of $300 million that would be mostly funded with voter-approved municipal bonds.