Avelo Reaches 50 Pilot Hires in 2026 as McKinney Base Nears Opening

Avelo Airlines has reported that it hired 50 pilots during 2026 and is advancing 18 first officers into captain upgrade training, as the low-cost carrier gets ready to open a new base at McKinney National Airport in Texas.

The figures were shared by Scott Hall, the airline's vice president of flight operations, in a September update on crew staffing.

Classes Running Through to November

Avelo said its July new-hire class had progressed into initial operating experience, the supervised line flying that follows type-rating and simulator training. The August class was moving toward simulator training, the October class was already full, and recruitment was under way for a November class.

New hires train at Avenger Flight Group's Dallas Training Center. The airline provides accommodation and travel during that phase, after which pilots complete Boeing 737 qualification and initial operating experience.

The upgrade of 18 first officers to captain is the other half of the staffing picture. Moving first officers up the seniority ladder opens right-seat slots that new hires fill, and it is the main way a growing airline keeps its crew pairings balanced.

What Avelo Is Looking For

The carrier seeks pilots holding an unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot certificate, along with military restricted-ATP candidates and selected non-military restricted-ATP applicants who meet FAA hour thresholds. Heavy-jet or Boeing experience and a 737 type rating are preferred, but the airline says neither is required.

That openness matters in a US market where regional carriers, majors and cargo operators are all competing for the same pool of licensed pilots. Boeing's 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook, published in July, projects demand for 122,000 new pilots in North America over the next 20 years.

McKinney Base and Fleet Plans

Avelo currently operates 16 Boeing 737NG aircraft. Its McKinney base, serving the Dallas area, is scheduled to open on 11 November 2026 with two 737NGs based there. The airline expects the base to create more than 100 local jobs, with initial service to five destinations in Florida and Nevada.

Longer term, Avelo has ordered 50 Embraer E195-E2 jets, with purchase rights for 50 more. E195-E2 operations are planned for 2028, which will bring a second fleet type and a new type-rating pipeline for its pilot group.

The staging of classes also shows how a mid-sized carrier smooths its training load. Rather than one large annual intake, Avelo spreads new hires across July, August, October and November, so simulator slots, instructors and line-check captains are never overwhelmed at once. Each class moves through three phases in turn: ground and simulator training in Dallas, 737 qualification, and supervised line flying. A captain-upgrade cohort running alongside adds a further call on training resources, which is why the airline publishes the pipeline in this detail.

For pilots weighing career options, the update offers a snapshot of how a smaller US carrier is staffing growth: steady monthly classes, internal upgrades and a training arrangement that covers living costs during initial qualification.