The FAA reopened El Paso’s airport early Wednesday morning, saying the drone-related safety threat had been neutralized.
FAA suspends most flights around El Paso to ensure safety
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an unusual security order suspending flights around El Paso until February 21, impacting all types of aviation.
The Federal Aviation Administration lifted the ban on most flights around El Paso early Wednesday. The agency imposed the ban late Tuesday, effectively forcing a closure of the city’s airport that was expected to last until February 21.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a social media post that the closure was ordered due to drone incursions into U.S. airspace near the airport.
“The threat has been neutralized and there is no longer any danger to business travel in the area,” the post said. “Restrictions have been lifted and normal operations have resumed.”
In the initial notice of the closure, officials cited “special safety reasons” as the reason for the closure, but provided no further information.
A social media post from the El Paso airport confirmed the closure.
“All flights to and from El Paso, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation, are suspended. The FAA has issued flight restrictions suspending all flights to and from El Paso from February 10th at 11:30 PM MST to February 20th at 11:30 PM MST. Travelers should contact their airlines for the latest flight status information,” the post said.
Which airlines fly to El Paso?
The airport is served by the following organizations:
- alaska airlines
- american airlines and american eagle
- delta airlines
- frontier airlines
- southwest airlines
- United Airlines and United Express
The airlines were scheduled to operate a total of 43 departures from the airport on February 11, but all of them may be canceled, according to aviation analysis firm Cirium. These flights could carry a total of more than 5,900 passengers, according to Cirium data.
According to Cirium, Southwest Airlines has the most flights scheduled to depart from El Paso on February 11 with 19, followed by American Airlines with 12.
Are there any exemptions for affected passengers?
American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines have issued travel waivers to give affected passengers more flexibility in booking flights.
The restrictions covered a 16-mile area around El Paso and applied to all airspace above ground level and up to nearly 18,000 feet. Under this restriction, aircraft were not allowed to fly in the area unless they received special permission from federal authorities. The airspace near Mexico was not affected.
Robert W. Mann Jr., a former airline executive and current president of RW Mann & Company, an independent aviation consultancy, said the move was “unprecedented. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
What to do if your flight is affected by the closure
Travelers are encouraged to contact their airline for the latest flight status and rebooking information.
If your flight is affected due to airport closures, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose to cancel your trip. Airlines will try to re-accommodate affected passengers, but El Paso is hundreds of miles from any other airport with commercial flights.
The closest locations are Albuquerque, New Mexico, at least a 3.5-hour drive, and Tucson, Arizona, about a 4.5-hour drive, according to Google Maps.
Southwest Airlines confirmed the closure in a statement to USA TODAY.
“At the direction of the FAA, Southwest Airlines has suspended all operations to and from El Paso International Airport. We are notifying affected customers and will share additional information as it becomes available. Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and employees.”
The airline did not say how customers would be reaccommodated. Other airlines flying to El Paso did not immediately respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY.
plane and crew stranded
Mann, the aviation consultant, warned that in addition to flight cancellations, planes and crews could be stranded in El Paso during the shutdown.
“Unless airlines and operators are exempted, (temporary flight restrictions) are absolute. If you can move planes, you probably want to move crews,” he said.
El Paso’s location is an additional complicating factor for both passengers and crew.
“El Paso is really remote. There’s no convenient place to fly to as an alternative. It’s hours and hours of driving to get to the freeway,” Mann said, suggesting that airlines may have to rely on ground transportation to move crews out of the city.
This is a developing story.
Contributor: Aaron Bedoya, El Paso Times
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
This story has been updated to include a detailed map of El Paso.
