The Federal Aviation Administration has reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after announcing a 10-day closure that would have grounded all flights to and from the airport.
Reversal of Closure Announcement
In a social media post, the FAA stated that it has lifted the temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, confirming there was no threat to commercial aviation and that all flights will resume. This move came shortly after the initial shutdown was announced "for special security reasons," which had been expected to cause significant disruptions due to its duration and the size of the metropolitan area.
Impact on El Paso and Surrounding Regions
El Paso, a border city with a population of nearly 700,000 people and larger when including the surrounding metro area, serves as a hub for cross-border commerce alongside the neighboring city of Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. The brief closure did not include Mexican airspace. Following the announcement, the airport posted on Instagram that all flights—commercial, cargo, and general aviation—would be grounded from late Tuesday through late on Feb. 20, advising travelers to contact their airlines for up-to-date flight information.
Political and Community Response
Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, urged the FAA to lift the restrictions in a statement Wednesday morning. She noted that no advance notice was given to her office, the city of El Paso, or airport operations. Escobar emphasized, "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. 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."
Airport Operations and Airlines
El Paso International Airport describes itself as the gateway to west Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. Major airlines such as Southwest, United, American, and Delta operate flights there. In response to the closure, Southwest Airlines stated that it paused all operations to and from El Paso at the direction of the FAA, notifying affected customers and prioritizing safety.
Similar Restrictions in Nearby Areas
A similar temporary flight restriction for special security reasons was imposed around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of the El Paso airport, covering the same time period. This highlights the broader security measures considered in the region.
The swift reversal by the FAA has alleviated potential travel chaos, but the incident underscores the complexities of aviation security and communication in border regions.
