Articles

NEWS RELEASE

McKinney National Airport Receives FAA Certification to Begin
Commercial Service Operations

— Airport Operating Certificate Clears Avelo Airlines’ Flights for Takeoff
Beginning on Nov. 11, 2026 —

McKINNEY, Texas (Sept. 25, 2026) — The City of McKinney and McKinney National Airport marked another milestone in the mission to deliver commercial air service by receiving an Airport Operating Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Certification is required for airports providing scheduled air carrier operations and ensures the airport is compliant with all federally required safety and emergency response regulations.

The safety of people and property are McKinney National Airport’s priorities and are regulated by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), specifically Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 139. By receiving its Airport Operating Certificate, the airport has demonstrated to the FAA the airport meets all FAR Part 139 standards, which include:

• Runway safety areas are cleared, graded, and the correct dimensions to reduce the risk of damage to an aircraft if it overruns, undershoots, or veers off the runway during takeoff or landing
• Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel are trained and the airport has the appropriate firefighting apparatus to respond to on-airport aircraft incidents and accidents during scheduled commercial-service operations
• Public safety is addressed through signage, and perimeter fencing and access gates restrict airfield entry to authorized personnel only
• Lighting, signage, and pavement paint markings on the runway, taxiways, and aircraft parking areas meet prescribed standards
• Aviation fueling safety oversight through fuel storage and dispensing infrastructure and equipment, and trained personnel and standardized signage
• A wildlife hazard management plan, which documents how the airport will monitor and discourage birds, ground-based animals, and other hazardous wildlife that could affect the safety of landing and departing aircraft, and
• A snow and ice control plan, addressing personnel training and procedures to promptly remove snow and ice from the airfield and pavement condition reporting to maintain safe operations.

In September, FAA certification personnel visited McKInney National Airport to inspect the airport to ensure compliance with the above required standards. FAA oversight also includes having the airport satisfactorily complete a full-scale emergency exercise, which was held on Sept. 18, to test on-airport emergency personnel and equipment response times to a simulated air carrier accident.

“The City of McKinney has met all federal safety requirements clearing Avelo Airlines and other future air carriers for takeoff from McKinney National Airport,” said McKinney City Manager Paul Grimes. “FAA certification is a major development for the City of McKinney, the airport, and local and visiting travelers, and we proudly celebrate this milestone both publicly and internally.”

FAA Director, Airports Southwest Region Ignacio Flores presented the Airport Operating Certificate at a community and press briefing on Sept. 24, which included Avelo Airlines announcing expanded flight service from McKinney National Airport and the airport providing an update on passenger terminal construction progress.

“The community around McKinney is growing rapidly, and accommodating commercial flights will provide the community with greater access to air travel options,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Dan Edwards. “We’re building a stronger National Airspace System, which means providing Texans with the modern, reliable local airports they need to stay connected.”

Compliance with FAA standards is reviewed and documented at least daily by airport personnel through FAA-mandated airfield inspections, maintaining ARFF services, and managing wildlife risks. McKinney National Airport and the FAA also ensure ongoing compliance of FAR Part 139 requirements through annual recertification inspections.

McKinney National Airport has invested in these additional safety measures for airport services:

• Extending Runway 18/36 to 8,002 feet, an increase of 1,000 feet since 2013
• In 2025, McKinney firefighters assigned to on-airport Fire Station #4 and certified and trained as ARFF responders welcomed a new state-of-the art firefighting vehicle featuring under-truck nozzles and thermal imaging cameras for enhanced visibility during fog, dense smoke, and darkness conditions, and
• The passenger terminal construction program includes an area to deice commercial service aircraft, another layer of safety during winter weather operations.

“The McKinney National Airport team thanks the FAA for their guidance and support as we worked together to ensure the airport meets all federal requirements so that everyone who works, visits, and travels through our airport is safe,” said McKinney Director of Aviation Ken Carley. “We have achieved this important marker of success and are prepared to welcome commercial service flights and passengers beginning November 11, 2026.”

The launch of Avelo Airlines flights in November will coincide with the opening of the airport’s newly constructed passenger terminal. Learn more about McKinney National Airport by visiting FlyDTX.com. Book flights by visiting AveloAir.com.

Media Contact
Aschelle Morgan
Senior Executive Communications and Public Affairs Manager

City of McKinney

[email protected]

904-655-5698 - mobile

About McKinney National Airport

McKinney National Airport has served as a general aviation airport under FAA code TKI for over 40 years and is now expanding to provide commercial air service in support of the growing population and ongoing business investment in the North Texas region. In summer 2025, McKinney city and airport leaders broke ground at McKinney National Airport (IATA code DTX) on a passenger terminal to serve up to 1 million passengers annually and will open to the public on November 11, 2026. Avelo Airlines is the first carrier to commit to serving McKinney National Airport. With nonstop flights and the new terminal, located at 1910 FM 546, McKinney, TX 75069, North Texas residents, businesses, and visitors will have more options to travel to and from the region, saving them time, money, and hassle. Learn more at FlyDTX.com and follow @FlyDTX on Instagram and X, and McKinney National Airport on Facebook.

Photos' captions:
L to R: City of McKinney representatives Assistant City Manager Barry Shelton, Airport Director Ken Carley, A.A.E., and Airport Maintenance and Operations Manager Teresa Lyons, A.A.E., ACE, ASC, with the Airport Operating Certificate.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

InfraSolutions Unveils AVIAS 2.0: Redefining Airport Management and Planning

Next-generation platform empowers airports with integrated analytics,
AI assistance, and streamlined management

BINGHAMTON, N.Y., September 22, 2026 – InfraSolutions®, LLC, a McFarland-Johnson, Inc. (MJ) company, today unveiled AVIAS® 2.0, the next generation of its airport management and planning technology platform. Purpose-built to empower airports with smarter decisions across the entire lifecycle, AVIAS 2.0 brings together advanced analytics, flexible workflows, geospatial intelligence, multi-airport control, and AI-powered assistance in a single, modern platform.

Since its launch in May 2024, AVIAS has helped airports manage information and processes spanning capital planning, forecasting, inspections, pavement management, obstruction analysis, land development, and terminal planning. AVIAS 2.0 builds on that foundation with new capabilities for today’s increasingly complex airport needs.

“AVIAS 2.0 is a game changer for airport leaders seeking to connect information, people, and decisions like never before,” said Jason Shevrin, VP and Director of Technology for InfraSolutions. “We built this platform for today’s fast-evolving airport environment, where multiple stakeholders, advanced data, complex funding, and ongoing scenario planning are the norm. AVIAS 2.0 unites these elements in a more seamless, intelligent, and actionable environment.”

AVIAS 2.0 features a robust platform architecture that empowers organizations managing one or multiple airports. The updated interface is intentionally standardized, so AVIAS looks and feels the same wherever it is deployed. Users benefit from consistent navigation, dashboards, and branding, reinforcing AVIAS as a unified, recognizable platform and reducing variation across implementations. Seamless workflows and location-aware data across airport locations are complemented by an improved user experience, faster GIS and mapping performance, and greater flexibility to configure airport-specific business rules and processes.

What’s New in AVIAS 2.0

• Multi-airport management and a location-aware platform enable seamless oversight and rapid switching between operational sites, reinforcing a unified AVIAS experience.
• Enterprise-grade security utilizes Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its independently audited cloud infrastructure and security controls, aligned with widely recognized standards including SOC and ISO 27001, to ensure robust protection for AVIAS.
• Secure and resilient cloud architecture, leveraging AWS services for secure application hosting, two-factor authentication (2FA), encrypted data storage, backup and recovery, and managed AI capabilities, providing a scalable, resilient foundation for airport operations.
• Decision Support integrates dashboards, real-time KPIs, and clear status context to provide actionable insights for faster, more informed decisions.
• Configurable, dynamic workflows and permissions adapt to each airport’s unique structure, streamlining operations as needs evolve.
• Advanced forecasting, scenario analysis, and financial evaluation tools give airports greater control over planning, operational triggers, and investment opportunities.
• Enhanced GIS, visualization, and lifecycle management deliver intuitive data interaction and greater asset visibility.
• Improved lifecycle management for assets and obstructions, offering greater visibility into historical changes.
• Modernized FAA and operational integrations support the latest NOTAM standards.
• Expanded development and financial scenario capabilities for evaluating airport property and investment opportunities.
• AVA, the AVIAS virtual assistant, streamlines information access and workflows with AI-powered natural-language interaction.

The AVIAS platform continues to bring together specialized applications that address key areas of airport planning and management.

• AEROCLEAR™ provides enhanced obstruction and asset lifecycle tracking, helping airports understand changes to critical features over time.
• CAPLAN™ provides capital improvement and funding management with expanded permissions, configurable approval workflows, and greater control over project and financial processes.
• DYNAMIC ANALYSIS TOOL® delivers forecasting and scenario-based planning with airport-specific forecasting factors and configurable financial and planning triggers.
• FLOW™ supports terminal demand and capacity analysis, helping airports evaluate facilities and operational requirements from the curb through the gate.
• INSPECT™ supports airport inspections, asset management, and operational workflows, with updates to FAA NOTAM integration and weather information.
• RUMBLE™ supports pavement management with an improved user experience and enhanced map performance.
• SITES™ supports airport land and development planning with improved highest-and-best-use analysis and greater flexibility for financial scenarios.

Together, these applications create a connected environment where airports can transform operational, financial, geographic, and planning information into actionable decisions. The addition of AVA, AVIAS 2.0’s AI-powered virtual assistant, delivers a new level of accessibility and productivity, allowing users to quickly find information, manage documents and insights, and navigate complex tasks using intuitive, conversational commands.

“AI should make airport technology more accessible, not more complicated,” added Shevrin. “AVA provides a natural way for users to interact with the wealth of information in their airport systems, helping teams spend less time searching for information and more time making informed decisions.”

From Data to Decisions

Today’s airports face constant change: shifting demand, funding, infrastructure needs, development opportunities, and operational constraints. AVIAS 2.0 brings these considerations together, enabling organizations to evaluate scenarios and make informed decisions in a unified environment. Instead of treating planning, operations, and capital management as separate silos, AVIAS 2.0 connects information across disciplines, making it easier to analyze, update, and act on data.

“AVIAS is about more than adding features,” said Shevrin. “It’s about creating a stronger link between the information airports collect and the decisions they need to make.”

AVIAS 2.0 is now available. For more information, visit https://www.mjinc.com/services/technology.

About InfraSolutions, LLC.

InfraSolutions, LLC, a McFarland-Johnson, Inc. company, is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions for the aviation and transportation industries. InfraSolutions offers AVIAS, a comprehensive airport management platform that digitizes data and transforms the decision-making process while helping reduce operational costs. Focused on transforming airport and infrastructure operations, InfraSolutions delivers advanced software platforms and digital tools to improve operational efficiency, passenger experience, and data-driven decision-making.

Backed by decades of industry expertise, InfraSolutions serves airports and clients across North America.

About McFarland-Johnson, Inc.

McFarland-Johnson, Inc. (MJ) is a 100 percent employee-owned planning, engineering, technology, environmental, and construction administration firm serving infrastructure clients across the United States. Founded in Upstate New York in 1946, MJ continues to grow with 28 offices and serves clients across diverse regions and markets. The company’s collaborative culture and depth of expertise drive innovative, sustainable infrastructure designs tailored to each client’s unique needs. MJ is a people-centric company dedicated to quality, community improvement, and making a meaningful impact in every community we serve.

Contact:
Jill Young, McFarland-Johnson, Inc.
Director of Business Development
[email protected]
615-887-8546