Nashville International Airport just added another new flight to its growing list of nonstop destinations. A new route to Dallas, Texas, will take off in December 17.
Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have offered daily flights from Nashville to the major Texas city's two larger airports for years, and Frontier added four weekly nonstops on the route in 2024. But according to airport data provided to airlines, Nashville has enough demand to support even more flights to Texas.
Ultra-low-cost airline Avelo will be the first to fly from BNA into McKinney National Airport, the metro area's smallest and newest commercial airport. It was constructed about 30 miles north of downtown Dallas in the 1970s after the Federal Aviation Administration
suggested Dallas needed to add a third airport given growing passenger numbers.
For four decades, McKinney National was focused on private aviation, but starting in December 2026, it will start welcoming in commercial passengers too. Avelo is the sole airline to sign on with McKinney thus far, and it has nine total routes schedules for the airport.
“We're excited to bring a new nonstop route to Nashville and make it easier than ever for travelers to connect between Music City and North Dallas/McKinney," Avelo founder Andrew Levy said in a statement. "Our low fares, the small size and convenience of DTX, and our consistent industry-leading on-time performance are a winning combination for travelers. Whether customers are planning a weekend getaway, visiting friends and family, or traveling for business, Avelo continues to deliver the experience our customers value."
Levy launched Avelo in 2021, promising flights to "unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country" that are priced affordably.
Similar to competitors like Allegiant and Frontier, Avelo Airlines offers the cheapest fares possible while charging for "add-ons" amenities like seat assignment, a carry-on and checked baggage. Still, itinerary changes are available without extra fees, and every child under the age of 14 will automatically be seated with an accompanying adult for no added cost.
Avelo made its Nashville debut in 2022 with a nonstop to New Haven, Connecticut, and in 2025, it added two year-round nonstops to Orlando, Florida, and Wilmington, North Carolina. Plus it flies seasonally from BNA to Rochester, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tickets for Avelo's new Dallas flight are available now, starting at $99 for a one-way and with an introductory gift of a complimentary checked bag.
Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work,subscribe to The Tennessean.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Budget airline adds new Nashville-to-Texas nonstop with $99 fares
