Why El Paso Airport Is Suddenly Trending—What Travelers Need to Know Today

El Paso International Airport (ELP) is effectively shut down after the Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that halts all commercial, cargo and general-aviation flights in the El Paso–southern New Mexico airspace from 11:30 p.m. MST on Feb. 10 through 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, citing “national defense” without further explanation. Flight-status boards went dark overnight as American, Southwest, United and Allegiant diverted or canceled departures. Airport officials urged passengers to “contact their airline before leaving for the airport” and to monitor @flyelp on social media for real-time updates. The TFR’s 10-day window overlaps one of the region’s busiest three-day weekends, amplifying disruption for military personnel moving through Fort Bliss, business travelers connecting via Dallas and leisure flyers bound for spring-break getaways. Alternate airport options • Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) – 268 mi. north via I-25 • Midland International Air & Space Port (MAF) – 293 mi. east via I-20 • Tucson International Airport (TUS) – 320 mi. west via I-10 Most major rental-car agencies at ELP are waiving one-way drop fees for vehicles heading to these airports during the closure period, and Greyhound has added two daily El Paso-Albuquerque buses. What travelers should do now 1. Rebook or request a refund directly with the airline; change-fee waivers are in place through Feb 20. 2. Sign up for flight-status text alerts and the FAA TFR email list. 3. Arrive at least three hours early if flying from an alternate hub, as ripple delays are expected across the Southwest network. Looking ahead: parking prices still rising In a move planned before the TFR, the El Paso City Council approved a $2 increase in long-term parking—raising the daily rate from $7 to $9—effective March 1. Officials say the hike will fund expanded shuttle service once operations resume, but the timing means travelers returning cars after the shutdown could face higher fees. Why the airspace is closed—key questions • What triggered the national-defense order? Federal authorities have not released details. • Could the TFR be extended? The FAA can renew or lift it at any time; stakeholders expect an update by Feb 18. • Are drones affected? Yes; unmanned aircraft operations within the 30-nautical-mile radius are prohibited. Search interest in “Is El Paso airport closed,” “El Paso flight cancellations” and “El Paso FAA restriction” has surged overnight as travelers scramble for information. Bookmark this page for continuing coverage as the story develops and the region waits for the all-clear to take off again.