McKinney Approves Pre-Construction for Commercial Terminal, Targets Late 2026

McKinney City Council unanimously approved a pre-construction contract with California-based Swinerton Builders on Feb. 18, 2026, advancing a scaled $72 million plan to add scheduled commercial airline service at McKinney National Airport (TKI). The council action cleared pre-construction services budgeted up to $35,000 and keeps the city on track for a public terminal dedication and airline operations targeted by late 2026.

City leaders say the terminal is intended to make TKI the third commercial airport in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex after DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field, serving a region of roughly 1.2 million people in Collin County and a McKinney population exceeding 225,000. Mayor Bill Cox framed the project as a long-standing municipal goal, saying, “This new terminal is not just an investment in McKinney, it’s an investment in the future of North Texas. This project fulfils a long-standing vision of the City Council to create a future-ready airport that strengthens mobility, supports economic development, and makes travel more accessible.”

The Swinerton pre-construction selection followed a competitive procurement in which the city received nine applications and considered five firms. Patricia Jackson, facilities construction manager for the City of McKinney, identified Swinerton’s fee structure of 1.95% as a decisive factor in the selection process. The council packet presented Swinerton’s pre-construction services as costing up to $35,000.

Design and construction partners already under contract include Arkansas-based Garver, awarded a $2.8 million design contract and associated with a $58 million guaranteed maximum price referenced by city coverage. Additional firms approved for project roles are Terracon Consultants for materials testing, Spinelli Construction as owner’s representative, and Matador Engineering for commissioning services.

Funding for the terminal has shifted since a failed 2023 voter measure to authorize $200 million in general obligation bonds for a larger $300 million project. The city scaled plans to the current $72 million terminal and pursued grants and economic development funding. Mayor Cox acknowledged a $14.8 million TxDOT grant, and the McKinney Economic Development Corporation approved $22.4 million for support facilities in May 2025. The City Council on Dec. 16, 2025, approved a budget amendment appropriating the remaining $7.4 million of that MEDC allocation for construction of support facilities.

Construction milestones reported by the city show progress entering late 2025. D Magazine noted officials broke ground in July, and a city construction update posted Dec. 17, 2025, reported that exterior walls for the passenger terminal had been lifted into place, almost half of terminal parking had been poured, and the first concrete pours for the aircraft apron had occurred. FlyTKI states, “Our passenger terminal and support facilities, which are on schedule to be completed by late 2026, will support convenient and affordable nonstop airline service for our residents and visitors.”

Operational planning calls for an initial three-gate terminal with room to expand to five gates. Early forecasts cited across city and industry coverage project roughly 200,000 passengers in the first year with an average of three daily departures, and planners say the airport could serve up to 1 million passengers annually by year five, language variously rendered as “by year five” or “by 2031” in published coverage. Airport Director Ken Carley added, “Today is a very good day for McKinney National Airport as we officially begin the transition from a successful general aviation operation to a commercial service airport,” and said the new facility will save travelers time and money.

City staff and contracting partners plan quarterly public construction updates as work continues toward the late-2026 dedication and subsequent start of airline service. Remaining questions for follow up include which carriers will sign service agreements and the final breakdown of total project funding.