FAA Closes El Paso Airspace, Suspends All Flights for 10 Days

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced the closure of airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the closure of the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days, suspending all flights in and out of the airport during this time period.

Why it matters

The sudden closure of the El Paso airspace is highly unusual and will significantly disrupt air travel in and out of the region, impacting both commercial and private flights. The FAA has not provided detailed reasons for the closure, raising concerns about potential security or safety issues at the airport.

The details

According to the announcement, the FAA has ordered the closure of the airspace around El Paso International Airport, effectively shutting down all flights in and out of the facility for the next 10 days. The FAA has not specified the exact reasons for the closure, only stating that it is a necessary precautionary measure.

  • The airspace closure was announced on February 11, 2026.
  • All flights in and out of El Paso International Airport will be suspended for 10 days starting immediately.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

El Paso International Airport

A commercial airport serving the city of El Paso, Texas and the surrounding region.

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What’s next

The FAA has not provided a specific timeline for when the airspace closure and flight suspensions will be lifted, leaving travelers uncertain about the duration of the disruption.

The takeaway

The sudden and unexplained closure of the El Paso airspace by the FAA has created significant uncertainty and disruption for air travel in the region, highlighting the broad authority the agency has to take such actions in the interest of safety and security.