FAA Orders Immediate Closure of El Paso International Airport
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered the immediate closure of El Paso International Airport in west Texas, grounding all flights for a 10-day period.
El Paso airport issued a travel advisory on Instagram stating: “All flights to and from El Paso are grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation.”
The advisory added: “The FAA has issued a flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso effective from February 10 at 11:30 PM (MST) to February 20 at 11:30 PM (MST). Travelers should contact their airlines to get most up-to-date flight status information.”
Flight Restriction Issued for “Special Security Reasons”
The FAA released a Notice to Air Missions (Notam) banning all flights within a 10-nautical-mile radius of the airport. The restriction applies to all aircraft flying below 18,000 feet.
The notice cited “Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons” but did not provide additional details explaining the decision.
El Paso is located near the US-Mexico border, approximately two miles from the frontier. The city is widely known as the Texas border setting featured in the television series Breaking Bad.
Immediate Impact on Flights
The ground stop took effect approximately one hour after the final scheduled commercial arrival on Tuesday night — an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth.
A later inbound executive jet from Everett, near Seattle, was forced to divert to Las Cruces, New Mexico, about 50 miles northwest of El Paso.
Airlines Affected by the Shutdown
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are the primary carriers operating at El Paso International Airport. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines also operate flights there, along with Alaska Airlines and Frontier Airlines.
As a result of the shutdown, at least 17 commercial aircraft operated by these airlines will remain grounded for the duration of the 10-day closure. This immobilization is expected to cause knock-on disruptions and cancellations across other parts of the airlines’ networks.
Passenger Rights and Travel Disruptions
The United States has more limited air passenger protection rules compared with the UK and the European Union. As a result, most affected travelers departing from the US may need to make alternative arrangements at their own expense.
Alternative airports are located significant distances away. The nearest comparable airport is Phoenix, Arizona, which is more than a six-hour drive from El Paso.
British and other European passengers scheduled to fly to El Paso should be offered alternative travel arrangements by their airlines under European passenger protection rules. However, the same level of protection does not apply to travelers flying from the United States.
Travelers Advised to Check with Airlines
Authorities are advising passengers to contact their airlines directly for the latest updates regarding flight status, rebooking options, and cancellations as the 10-day restriction remains in place.
