If you were planning to fly in or out of El Paso this week, your trip just got parked on the tarmac.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday issued a temporary flight restriction that halts all flights to and from El Paso, grounding commercial, cargo, and general aviation operations in the area. The order took effect Tuesday night (Feb. 10) and is scheduled to remain in place through Feb. 20. The restriction also covers the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, N.M., and airport officials said they are waiting on additional guidance from federal authorities.
In a statement to local media, El Paso International Airport said the FAA issued the restriction on short notice and that commercial airlines operating out of ELP are being notified. The airport urged travelers to contact their carriers for the latest status. KFOX reported the airport described the pause as appearing to be security-related. According to KFOX, airport staff reached out to the FAA and were awaiting further guidance.
Per the FAA, the NOTAM is marked for special security reasons, and the agency's online entry lists the affected airspace and effective times. The FAA listing shows the restriction covers a roughly 10-nautical-mile radius near the ELP VORTAC and extends from the surface up to 17,999 feet mean sea level, matching the Feb. 10–Feb 20 timeframe reported by local officials. The FAA's online NOTAM page carries the full regulatory text and any operating exceptions.
What travelers should do
Passengers with upcoming flights should contact their carrier and check the airport's arrivals and departures feed for live status updates. El Paso International lists Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United as carriers serving ELP, and those airlines are likely communicating schedule changes to affected customers. For carrier contacts and live flight information, see the El Paso International Airport website.
Why the FAA issue TFRs
Temporary flight restrictions are issued through the FAA's NOTAM system to protect safety or security, from natural disasters to national security events, and only authorized aircraft may operate inside a TFR. The FAA notes that some relief or emergency operations can be approved, but unauthorized aircraft that violate a TFR risk enforcement action. For background on TFRs and how waivers can be handled, see the FAA.
We will update this post if the FAA or the airport releases additional information. Travelers should monitor their airline, the airport website, and official FAA NOTAM pages for the latest status.
