Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will gain a new nonstop connection to the Dallas area when Avelo Airlines launches twice-weekly service to McKinney National Airport on Dec. 16.

One-way introductory fares start at $69, according to the airline's Oct. 15 announcement. Flights will operate Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Avelo will be the only airline offering nonstop service between Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and McKinney National Airport (DTX), north of Dallas. SRQ already has nonstop connections to the Dallas area through other carriers, including American Airlines service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Avelo, which began operating at SRQ in 2021, also serves Tweed-New Haven Airport in Connecticut and Wilmington Airport in Delaware from Sarasota. The McKinney route brings its SRQ destinations to three.

New airport terminal opens in November

McKinney National Airport is preparing to open its new commercial passenger terminal Nov. 11, about five weeks before the Sarasota route begins, according to the Business Observer.

Avelo promotes the smaller airport as a less congested alternative to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, emphasizing convenient parking and shorter distances between the curb and boarding gates.

Paul Hoback, president and CEO of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, welcomed the new connection.

The route "gives our local travelers an affordable and convenient way to visit the Dallas-Fort Worth area while opening the door for more Texans to experience everything our region has to offer," Hoback said in a statement.

The Sarasota service is part of Avelo's broader expansion at McKinney, which will increase its network there to 11 destinations.

Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy said the airline plans to base three Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft at the airport, an investment expected to create approximately 150 jobs.

Introductory fares available through Oct. 22

The $69 promotional fare applies to travel from Jan. 7 through Jan. 31, 2027, and tickets must be purchased by Oct. 22, according to Avelo.

The price is for one-way travel and includes government taxes and fees. Optional services, including checked baggage and advance seat selection, cost extra. Seats and eligible travel dates are limited.

The promotional fare does not apply to the route's initial flights beginning Dec. 16.

SRQ continues expanding air service

The new route adds to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport's growing network as the airport projects approximately 4.64 million passengers for fiscal year 2026, according to the Herald-Tribune.

The announcement follows SRQ's recognition as the nation's top resort airport for the second consecutive year.

Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Oct. 14 that a single year-round, twice-weekly nonstop route can generate an estimated $10 million to $12 million in annual economic impact for the region.

Reservations for the new McKinney service are available at AveloAir.com.