Home » AIRLINE NEWS » Urgent Travel Alert As El Paso International Airport Faces Potential Disruptions Amid Government Shutdown And FAA’s Nationwide Flight Reductions
Published on
November 11, 2025
As the U.S. government shutdown continues, El Paso International Airport is on high alert for potential travel disruptions, with the FAA considering significant flight reductions at major airports across the country. While the airport has not yet received official notice about cuts, the ongoing shutdown could lead to widespread delays and cancellations, impacting millions of travelers. This comes as the FAA prepares to adjust air traffic operations, including reductions in flights at airports in key cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, which could create a ripple effect on travel throughout the U.S.
As millions of travelers prepare for potential delays at airports across the country due to the ongoing government shutdown, El Paso International Airport has confirmed it has not yet received any official communication from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding any flight reductions.
The FAA is expected to implement a 10% reduction in flights at more than 40 major airports across the United States, a move prompted by the shutdown’s impact on air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made this announcement during a press briefing on November 5. According to reports from ABC News and CBS News, airports in major cities including Dallas, Houston, New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles are among those that will be affected by these flight cuts.
El Paso International Airport addressed the situation through a social media post on November 6, stating that it is actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. At the time, the airport had only experienced one delay, a Southwest Airlines flight arriving from Phoenix.
While El Paso has yet to be officially included in the list of airports facing flight reductions, the list of affected airports could change once the FAA releases its official update. As of now, reports indicate the following airports will experience cuts in flight activity:
Anchorage International (ANC)Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)Boston Logan International (BOS)Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)Dallas Love Field (DAL)Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)Denver International (DEN)Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)Newark Liberty International (EWR)Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)Honolulu International (HNL)Houston Hobby (HOU)Washington Dulles International (IAD)George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)Indianapolis International (IND)New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)Los Angeles International (LAX)New York LaGuardia (LGA)Orlando International (MCO)Chicago Midway (MDW)Memphis International (MEM)Miami International (MIA)Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)Oakland International (OAK)Ontario International (ONT)Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)Portland International (PDX)Philadelphia International (PHL)Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)San Diego International (SAN)Louisville International (SDF)Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)San Francisco International (SFO)Salt Lake City International (SLC)Teterboro (TEB)Tampa International (TPA)
These cuts are expected to affect both domestic and international flights as air traffic controllers are being reassigned due to the shutdown. The disruption has left travelers with increased uncertainty as they prepare for holiday travel, with concerns about further delays or cancellations. However, airport officials are working to keep passengers informed and ensure that operations continue as smoothly as possible under the circumstances.
Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates on their flights, as changes to the schedule may occur suddenly. Some airlines may proactively offer rebooking options, while others might implement delays without warning depending on staffing levels and air traffic conditions.
For now, El Paso International Airport and other major airports are doing their best to keep passengers informed of any developments as the shutdown continues to impact the air travel system. Airport authorities emphasize that they will provide timely updates and advise travelers to monitor flight status regularly as the situation unfolds.
