City officials celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony July 18 for the McKinney National Airport’s commercial passenger service terminal. The 46,600-square-foot terminal is expected to open in 2026 on the east side of the airport.
Airport Director Ken Carley said he’s worked on a number of projects for the airport but “nothing really compares to today.”
“TKI has been a thriving and successful airport for over 40 years but now we’re ushering in a new era of aviation for our North Texas community,” he said.
What’s happening?
Construction is starting on a passenger service terminal at the McKinney airport. The facility will include four gates with the option to expand to six gates in the future, according to the airport’s website.
The terminal is expected to serve 200,000 passengers a year initially, according to a city news release. Expanding the gates could support more than one million travelers each year.
Mayor Bill Cox said it was an exciting day for McKinney and North Texas. He said the expansion is a critical part of the city’s long-term strategy in supporting its local economy and attracting future opportunities.
“Today is about recognizing the vision, the determination and the collaboration that brought us to this moment,” he said. “This new terminal is not just an investment in McKinney, it’s a bold investment in North Texas.”
The background
The project has been years in the making. The groundbreaking comes two years after McKinney residents voted against a $200 million bond proposition that would have funded a larger, roughly $300 million vision of the expansion.
Instead, construction costs approved by council members in May total about $61.36 million. The contracts are funded by a variety of sources including sales tax revenue bonds provided by the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and funds from the city's Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2.
The city also received a $14.8 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation in June. That money will be used for infrastructure projects that support commercial passenger service at the airport, according to a city news release.
The terminal and its support facilities is expected to cost $79 million in total, according to the city news release.
Plans for the expansion also include a parking lot with 980 parking spaces that will be constructed next to the terminal. The parking lot can be expanded to 1,450 spaces in the future.
What they’re saying
Angela Richardson-Woods, chairperson of the McKinney Community Development Corporation’s board of directors, said this project will “shape the future of McKinney for generations to come.”
The MCDC committed $30 million to support the project because it reflects everything the city stands for: innovation, community focus and a “bold vision for tomorrow,” she said.
“The expansion is truly a symbol of our future and the legacy we are building together,” she said.
Brian Loughmiller, chairperson of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation’s board of directors, said when he was a City Council member he remembered that the airport’s development was always at the “top of the list” when envisioning the future of McKinney.
Loughmiller previously served two terms on City Council and two terms as McKinney mayor. The city’s mayors have consistently followed this vision to bring commercial service to the area, he said.
“Here we are, literally 20 years later, and this is such a key moment for us and a key moment for our community,” he said.
George Fuller, former mayor and owner of the Guitar Sanctuary, said the airport will soon bring families to McKinney but it won’t just be about travel.
“It'll be about moments that matter: reunions, first, adventures, goodbyes and new beginnings,” he said. “This terminal will carry the weight of those human stories for generations to come.”
The groundbreaking is a significant milestone for McKinney, he said. It reflects the city’s ambition and collective vision of its leaders, staff and residents to bring the project to life.
“I don’t know where the first flight will be going to from McKinney,” he said. “You can bet yourself I will be on it.”
