Air travelers across Texas are facing a fresh round of disruptions as major U.S. carriers report cancellations and delays affecting key hubs in El Paso, Dallas and Houston. On February 11, 2026, a combination of security-driven airspace restrictions over El Paso and lingering winter weather impacts on North and Southeast Texas operations left passengers with a patchwork of scrapped flights and rolling delays. Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines were among the carriers reporting at least 20 outright cancellations and more than 50 delays across the three cities, underscoring how quickly localized disruptions can ripple through some of the nation’s busiest travel corridors.
El Paso’s Sudden Airspace Closure Triggers Cascading Disruptions
The most dramatic disruption originated in El Paso, where federal aviation officials issued an unprecedented temporary flight restriction over the city beginning late on February 10. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a shutdown of the airspace around El Paso International Airport, citing only “special security reasons.” The measure initially halted virtually all commercial, cargo and general aviation movements into and out of the border city, turning a key West Texas gateway into an overnight no-fly zone.
The order was framed to last up to 10 days, through February 20, instantly scrambling travel plans for thousands of passengers whose itineraries depended on El Paso as either an origin, destination or connecting point. While the specific security rationale remained undisclosed, airlines quickly moved to suspend operations, rebook travelers and issue travel waivers. For many passengers, the closure translated to same-day cancellations, missed connections in Dallas and Houston, and a struggle to find alternative routes through already busy winter schedules.
By the afternoon of February 11, data from flight-tracking services showed at least 14 El Paso flights canceled and several more delayed as airlines adjusted to the airspace order and sought clarity on permitted operations. Southwest accounted for the bulk of the cancellations in and out of El Paso, while United and Delta each scrubbed multiple regional services. Although some restrictions were later refined and clarified, the initial blanket halt contributed significantly to the day’s tally of cancellations and delays across Texas.
Dallas and Houston Grapple With Knock-On Effects and Winter Weather
Far from being an isolated West Texas issue, El Paso’s airspace shutdown intersected with operational strains already facing airlines in Dallas and Houston. North Texas airports, including Dallas Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field, had been adjusting schedules amid periodic winter weather concerns earlier in the season, prompting airlines to preemptively trim flights and build in buffer time for ground operations such as de-icing.
Houston’s two main airports, George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby, also entered February with lingering effects from a recent cold snap and associated travel waivers related to Winter Storm Fern. In late January, major carriers had offered fee-free changes for passengers traveling through the region, a sign that operations were running close to the edge of available capacity. As a result, any additional disruption, even on routes far to the west in El Paso, risked tipping schedules back into irregular operations.
On February 11, the combination of residual winter weather impacts and the El Paso airspace order prompted airlines to consolidate underbooked flights, retime departures and hold connecting services for late-arriving aircraft. Travelers in Dallas and Houston found themselves waiting for crews and planes that were either stuck under security restrictions in West Texas or delayed on inbound legs from affected routes. The result was a patchwork of delays, some stretching beyond an hour, and additional cancellations on short-haul links within Texas and to neighboring states.
Major Carriers Adjust Schedules as Cancellations and Delays Mount
Southwest Airlines, the dominant low-cost carrier in Texas, appeared among the hardest hit by the sudden operational shock. With a dense short-haul network that relies on rapid aircraft and crew turnarounds, the loss or retiming of multiple El Paso flights had outsized consequences for subsequent departures from Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby. Passengers reported receiving overnight alerts of cancellations, followed by offers to rebook on later services or to reroute via alternative cities such as Austin, San Antonio or Albuquerque.
United Airlines, which maintains a major hub at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, also adjusted its Texas schedules. The airline introduced travel waivers for customers booked to and from El Paso during the restriction period, allowing changes without additional fees if passengers rebooked within specified dates. These waivers were designed to ease pressure on call centers and airport counters while giving travelers more flexibility to rework their plans around the disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, with a more limited footprint in El Paso but an important presence in Dallas and Houston through connecting services, canceled select regional flights and warned customers of possible delays. In statements to local media and through its customer channels, Delta emphasized that safety and compliance with federal directives remained paramount. The carrier encouraged passengers to monitor their flight status frequently on airline apps and to allow extra time at the airport as queues grew at ticketing counters and rebooking desks.
What Today’s Numbers Mean for Texas Travelers
While the figures of 20 cancellations and 58 delays may sound modest compared with the hundreds or even thousands of daily disruptions seen during severe nationwide storms, they carry outsized weight for passengers in a single region on a single day. Because many of the affected flights were concentrated in and out of El Paso and on short-haul Texas routes, the statistical impact was magnified for travelers relying on those specific corridors for business, family visits or cross-border trips.
In practical terms, a single canceled morning departure from El Paso to Dallas can unravel multiple onward connections to Houston, San Antonio, Austin and beyond. For travelers, that may mean arriving several hours late, arriving a day late or in some cases abandoning trips altogether. Families heading to medical appointments, students returning to campus after a weekend away and cross-border commuters working between Texas and neighboring New Mexico or northern Mexico all felt the strain of the day’s numbers.
Moreover, delays tend to clump around certain peaks in the daily schedule. Early-morning disruptions can ripple across an entire operating day, pushing later departures into the evening, tightening connection times and increasing the risk of missed flights. Travelers who started their journeys in Dallas or Houston found that even a modest delay on a feeder flight could mean an unplanned overnight stay if their onward leg to El Paso or another regional city was canceled or rescheduled beyond practical travel hours.
Inside the Passenger Experience: Confusion, Long Lines and Rapid Rebooking
On the ground, the story of cancellations and delays in Texas on February 11 was most visible in the human scenes unfolding at airport terminals. At El Paso International Airport, passengers who arrived early for late-night and early-morning flights were met with abrupt notifications that their services had been grounded under a federal security directive. Electronic boards rapidly filled with red “canceled” marks, while airline agents scrambled to explain the evolving situation with limited information from federal authorities.
In Dallas and Houston, the experience was more diffuse but no less stressful. Travelers arriving to connect through the cities discovered that their onward flights had either been delayed or removed from the schedule, often just as boarding was set to begin. Long lines formed at customer service counters as people sought clarification, refunds, hotel vouchers or new itineraries that could keep their trips on track.
For some, digital tools offered a lifeline. Airline apps and text alerts helped passengers rebook on alternative flights before even reaching the airport, which in some cases prevented unnecessary trips to the terminal. Others relied on social media updates from airports and carriers to stay informed about evolving conditions. Still, not all passengers had access to real-time information or felt comfortable navigating airline policies on their own, leaving many to endure lengthy waits and repeated conversations with overtaxed gate agents and call center staff.
Guidance for Travelers Navigating the Current Disruptions
For travelers planning to fly into, out of or through Texas over the coming days, a few practical steps can help blunt the impact of ongoing schedule shifts. The first and most important is to monitor flight status frequently, starting 24 hours before departure and continuing up to the time you leave for the airport. Because airlines are fine-tuning schedules in response to both security directives and weather-related constraints, flight times can change multiple times in a short window.
Passengers should also make full use of airline self-service tools. Most major carriers now allow same-day changes, standby requests and rebooking through their mobile apps or websites, which can be faster and less stressful than waiting in line at the airport. If you are connecting through Dallas or Houston and your itinerary involves El Paso or another regional city, consider building extra time between flights or asking an agent whether rerouting via an alternative hub might be more reliable.
It is also wise to review your fare rules and any travel waivers currently in place. When disruptions stem from broad events such as security concerns or winter storms, airlines often relax change fees and fare differences within defined date ranges or route combinations. Knowing what flexibility your ticket offers can put you in a stronger position when you contact customer service, whether online, by phone or at the airport.
Broader Implications for Texas Aviation and Regional Connectivity
The intersection of a rare airspace closure in El Paso with weather-sensitive operations in Dallas and Houston highlights how interconnected Texas air travel has become. El Paso serves as a vital gateway not just for West Texas, but also for southern New Mexico and parts of northern Mexico, funneling travelers into the broader domestic and international networks of Southwest, United, Delta and American. When this gateway experiences a prolonged or severe interruption, the effects naturally radiate outward.
Dallas and Houston, for their part, function as national and global hubs. Flights from El Paso and other Texas cities feed into these larger networks, allowing passengers to connect to the East Coast, Midwest, West Coast and abroad. Any constraint on feeder routes, whether caused by security orders, storms or infrastructure issues, can temporarily reduce connectivity options, particularly on less frequent routes where alternative services are limited.
For Texas aviation officials and airline network planners, the latest disruptions underscore the importance of contingency planning for low-probability but high-impact events. While weather is a familiar variable, sweeping security-related airspace restrictions are far less common and more difficult to predict. Enhancing communication channels between federal authorities, airports and airlines, as well as investing in robust passenger information systems, will be crucial as the state’s air traffic continues to grow.
Looking Ahead: What Travelers Can Expect Next
As of the latest updates on February 11, airlines were still assessing the full impact of the El Paso airspace restriction and associated scheduling changes in Dallas and Houston. While some carriers signaled optimism that operations could be gradually stabilized, much depends on how long the strictest security measures remain in place and whether any additional weather systems complicate recovery efforts over the coming days.
Travelers with bookings through El Paso between now and late February should prepare for ongoing uncertainty, regularly checking for advisories from both airlines and the airport. Those traveling through Dallas and Houston, even on routes that do not directly involve El Paso, may still feel the residual effects of aircraft and crew imbalances, particularly during peak travel periods such as early mornings and late afternoons.
For now, the story in Texas is one of resilience and adaptation in the face of overlapping pressures on the aviation system. While the numbers of cancellations and delays reported today will likely be revised as airlines refine their operations, the experiences of affected passengers are a clear reminder of how quickly travel plans can change. Staying informed, flexible and proactive remains the best strategy for navigating air travel across the Lone Star State during this unsettled period.