EL PASO, Texas (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after announcing a temporary closure that would have grounded all flights to and from the airport.
The FAA lifted a surprise closure of El Paso airspace, restoring commercial and general aviation flights after initially citing “special security reasons.”
- The FAA initially closed the airspace over El Paso International Airport for 10 days.
- The closure was lifted Wednesday morning with the FAA stating there was no threat to commercial aviation.
- Rep. Veronica Escobar urged the FAA to lift the restrictions, citing a lack of prior notification.
The FAA said in a social media post that it has lifted the temporary closure, stating there was no threat to commercial aviation and that all flights will resume.
The shutdown, announced hours earlier “for special security reasons,” had been expected to create significant disruptions given the duration and the size of the metropolitan area. El Paso, a border city with a population of nearly 700,000 people, is a hub of cross-border commerce alongside Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, though the closure did not include Mexican airspace.
The airport said in an Instagram post that all flights to and from the airport would have been grounded from late Tuesday through late on Feb. 20, including commercial, cargo and general aviation flights. It suggested travelers contact their airlines for up-to-date flight information.
Escobar Urged FAA to Reconsider
Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, had urged the FAA to lift the restrictions in a statement Wednesday morning. She stated that no advance notice was given to her office, the city of El Paso, or airport operations.
“The highly consequential decision by FAA to shut down the El Paso Airport for 10 days is unprecedented and has resulted in significant concern within the community,” Escobar said. “From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.”
The airport describes itself as the gateway to west Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Southwest, United, American and Delta all operate flights there, among others.
A similar temporary flight restriction for special security reasons over the same time period was imposed around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of the El Paso airport.
Southwest Airlines said in a statement that it had paused all operations to and from El Paso at the direction of the FAA. “We have notified affected customers and will share additional information as it becomes available,” Southwest Airlines said. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees.”
Why It Matters
The abrupt closure and reversal of the FAA’s decision highlights the agency’s authority over airspace management, even in areas with significant economic and logistical implications. The lack of communication with local officials, as noted by Rep. Escobar, raises questions about transparency and coordination during security-related airspace restrictions. The quick resolution, however, averted major travel disruptions for a city heavily reliant on air travel for commerce and connectivity.
