What exactly happened during the El Paso airport closure?

On 12 February, the FAA briefly halted all flights into and out of El Paso, citing security as the reason according to international reporting. The order was lifted the same day and services restarted, but airlines had to cancel and divert some flights. That created knock-on delays as crews and aircraft were out of position. Even after operations resumed, schedules needed hours to rebalance and passengers faced longer connections and rebooked itineraries.

How does this affect Australian travellers with U.S. connections?

If you connect to El Paso via Los Angeles or Dallas, expect potential same‑day delays after a ground stop. Build wider buffers between domestic legs, track airline app notifications, and keep receipts for meals or hotels in case your policy covers delays. If a bag was delayed due to a diversion, submit claims promptly. Where possible, shift tight evening connections to earlier flights until schedules stabilise citywide.

What should exporters and investors in Australia watch now?

Exporters should verify uplift, not just bookings, and confirm revised cut-off times for cross-border trucking. Consider alternate routings for perishable or time‑critical goods until rotations normalise. Investors should track completion factors, cancellations, and any new FAA flight restrictions across border hubs. If alerts stay isolated and recovery is quick, treat this as a transitory event. Reassess disruption assumptions only if similar halts recur across multiple gateways.

Law and Government

El Paso Flights Halted Then Resumed: Security Alert — February 12

ByDanny Kontos February 12, 2026February 12, 2026

El Paso airport closure on 12 February briefly halted departures and arrivals before the FAA lifted its order and services resumed. While reasons were not disclosed, operations faced cancellations and diversions. For Australians, the event highlights FAA flight restrictions and airline disruption risk across a key U.S.–Mexico trade corridor. We explain what happened, the knock-on effects for travellers and exporters, and what investors should watch as El Paso flights resume and schedules stabilise through the day.