McKinney’s airport expansion moved from debate to construction this summer, and the split among nearby communities has only grown sharper. Work on a new commercial passenger terminal at McKinney National Airport (TKI) began after a July 2025 groundbreaking, with the city targeting the launch of commercial flights in late 2026. McKinney leaders call the project a needed step to build North Texas’s third commercial airport. The Fairview Mayor, John Hubbard, says the plan fails residents who worry about more noise, more pollution, heavier traffic, and home prices that could suffer. Those tensions sum up the stakes: faster local travel and new jobs for some, daily disruption for others.
McKinney Mayor Bill Cox has been the project’s most visible champion, calling it a “bold investment in North Texas” and stressing that the current plan avoids property tax dollars. Former McKinney Mayor George Fuller adds that recent city council races show voters back the airport because candidates who ran against expansion lost.
The pushback is equally loud. Fairview’s mayor argues his town’s residents feel unheard and at risk from flight paths, traffic spillover, and air quality changes. A 2025 federal lawsuit from the North Texas Conservation Association challenges the project’s environmental assessment, warning about harm to nearby sites, including the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Funding, timeline, and design
- Ground broke in July 2025; construction started in summer 2025. First commercial flights are planned for late 2026.
- The terminal will span 45,000–46,000 square feet with four gates at opening and room to expand to six.
- A 980-space parking lot and a dedicated access road are part of the build to manage on-site traffic.
- The facility is designed to serve about 200,000 passengers each year at first, with room to scale to over one million.
- Total cost sits between $72–79 million. Funding sources include:
- Sales tax revenue
- Federal and state grants, including a $14.8 million Texas Department of Transportation grant
- A reinvestment zone
- No property tax funding is being used after voters turned down a $200 million bond in 2023.
City officials frame the financial plan as both careful and forward-looking. By swapping the failed 2023 bond for sales tax, grants, and other tools, McKinney says it can build a smaller, phased terminal while keeping the door open for growth.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, airport projects like this often become flashpoints where growth goals meet neighborhood worries, and the funding method can signal how much risk a city is willing to take to get to opening day.
Project history and current schedule
From 2019 to 2023, McKinney studied options, spoke with airlines, and put a larger, 16-gate terminal plan before voters. That plan hinged on property taxes and lost at the ballot box.
In 2024–2025, the city secured a different funding package, lined up contracts, and set the stage for a quicker build. The July 2025 groundbreaking marked a turn from planning to action. Work now focuses on the terminal, parking, taxiways, and support systems through late 2026.
City leaders say they are in talks with national airlines; formal announcements will come closer to launch once the schedule, facilities, and staffing are ready.
Community pushback and legal fight
The sharpest resistance comes from neighboring Fairview. Fairview Mayor John Hubbard says:
“A lot of residents are concerned about noise, pollution, traffic, and a potential decrease in property values.”
In public comments, Fairview residents say the project moves too fast and leaves them with the costs while McKinney gets the gains. Specific local concerns include:
- Louder days and nights for neighborhoods under approach and departure routes
- Potential impacts to schools, parks, and other community spaces
- Increased traffic on already-congested local roads
- Possible downward pressure on home values
The North Texas Conservation Association’s 2025 lawsuit raises a related legal question: whether the project’s environmental assessment meets federal standards under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The group says the review misses important local impacts and specifically names the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary.
If the court orders a new or deeper review, the schedule could slip. If the court lets the current assessment stand, the build can keep pace. McKinney insists the assessment is sound and that the airport’s design can limit impacts by:
- Opening with a smaller terminal and fewer gates
- Building a dedicated access road to keep airport traffic off neighborhood streets
Supporters’ arguments
Backers point to access and economic benefits:
- City materials estimate total economic impact could rise from about $299 million today to over $700 million a year once commercial service is operating.
- Anticipated benefits include:
- Shorter drives for local travelers
- New spending around the terminal
- Jobs in operations, service, and future route growth
- Supporters also say a smaller field like TKI can add seats and ease pressure on nearby full airports when demand spikes.
Regional mobility and day-to-day impact
For residents across Collin County, the promise is simpler trips and more choices:
- Fewer long drives to catch morning flights
- Easier weekend travel for families balancing school and work
- Time savings for business travelers
- Better domestic connection options for students and newcomers, including people on study and work visas
But convenience for many can mean daily trade-offs for neighbors close to runways:
- More takeoffs and landings overhead
- New traffic patterns around the access road
- Concerns about how home values will respond if noise increases
Because this is a phased build, many details — from airline partners to flight schedules — will be determined closer to launch. Residents who want to track decisions can follow City of McKinney announcements on the official site at https://www.mckinneytexas.org for construction updates, council agendas, and meeting notices.
People who want to voice concerns can:
- Speak at McKinney city council meetings
- Contact Fairview Town Hall
- Monitor court filings in the North Texas Conservation Association case to see if judges order a new review or allow the current timeline to hold
Broader context and what comes next
The debate over McKinney’s airport expansion reflects a larger story about North Texas growth. Collin County’s population surge has city leaders seeking ways to match growth with travel options.
- Supporters see the terminal as a right-sized start that avoids property tax funding and allows room to grow if demand proves strong.
- Opponents view the project as moving too quickly and shifting harm onto neighbors who never asked for nearby jet traffic.
The next 12 to 18 months — when concrete is poured, access roads open, and airlines decide on routes — will show which story plays out on the ground.
This Article in a Nutshell
Construction on McKinney’s new commercial terminal began in July 2025, aiming for flights by late 2026. The $72–79 million project avoids property tax funding and will open with a 45,000–46,000 sq ft terminal, four gates, and 980 parking spaces. Supporters cite economic and travel benefits; opponents cite noise, traffic, and environmental concerns. A 2025 NEPA lawsuit could delay the timeline.
