Avelo adds Fort Lauderdale flight to Dallas area, fares start at $99

Avelo Airlines is adding a Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport nonstop to McKinney National Airport north of Dallas, with service starting Nov. 19 and introductory one-way fares from $99. For Broward travelers heading to North Texas, the bigger draw is not just price, but landing at a smaller airport built around convenience rather than the scale and congestion of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport or Dallas Love Field.

The Fort Lauderdale flight is part of a five-route McKinney launch that also includes Las Vegas, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa. Avelo said the Fort Lauderdale and Tampa routes begin Nov. 19, while Fort Myers starts Nov. 11 and Las Vegas and Orlando begin Nov. 12. The airline said the flights will use 184-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft based at McKinney National Airport, and that the new service will create more than 100 local jobs.

Avelo is framing McKinney as its first and only hometown airline, a label that fits the carrier’s push into smaller airports in growing markets. The airline said bookings made through July include the first checked bag free, a perk that makes the route more attractive for families and travelers trying to keep total trip costs down. That matters for South Florida flyers who are often choosing among fare, bag fees and airport convenience before they ever reach the gate.

McKinney’s appeal is also tied to the airport itself. FlightGlobal said the facility will be Dallas-Fort Worth’s third commercial airport, after DFW and Love Field, and that Avelo plans 20 weekly flights across the five routes. The city says construction of the passenger terminal, commercial aircraft apron, parking areas and other support facilities is on schedule for completion in late 2026, underscoring how newly built the airport is compared with the region’s established hubs.

For Broward residents, the route adds another nonstop option out of Fort Lauderdale in a market where competition still turns on price and ease. It gives Avelo a way to chase leisure travelers, visiting friends and relatives, and cost-conscious business passengers, while giving Fort Lauderdale another low-fare link into the Dallas area.