El Paso's Air Travel: Airport Accessibility And Convenience

El Paso, Texas, is served by El Paso International Airport (EPIA), which is located 13 miles from the city centre. The airport is the gateway to West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Northern Mexico. It is the busiest commercial airport in West Texas, handling 3,904,110 passengers in 2023. The airport has two concourses, A and B, and is served by nine major airlines, including Southwest, Delta, and United. El Paso also has a municipal airport, Biggs Army Airfield, which is 12 miles from the city.

El Paso International Airport's location

El Paso International Airport (EPIA) is located in El Paso County, Texas, in the United States. The airport is situated four miles (6 km) northeast of downtown El Paso. It serves as a gateway to West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and Northern Mexico.

El Paso International Airport is easily accessible, located just four miles from the downtown area of the city it is named after. The airport is a convenient option for those travelling to West Texas, Southern New Mexico, and even Northern Mexico.

The airport code for El Paso International Airport is ELP, and its Spanish name is "Aeropuerto Internacional de El Paso". ELP has two concourses, A and B, with a total of 15 ramps. It is a busy airport, handling 3,904,110 passengers in 2023, with 96,316 aircraft operations.

The airport covers a vast area of 6,670 acres (2,699 ha) and features three runways of varying lengths and widths. The terminal has a pier-satellite layout, with a central entrance and gates that branch out east to west on the two concourses. The design allows for efficient passenger flow, with the gates located on the upper level and ticketing, baggage claim, rental car services, and the main entrance on the lower level.

Airlines that use El Paso International Airport

El Paso International Airport (EPIA) is located four miles (6 km) northeast of downtown El Paso, in El Paso County, Texas, United States. It is the busiest commercial airport in West Texas, serving Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico. The airport handled 3,904,110 passengers in 2023, with 96,316 aircraft operations.

EPIA has two concourses, A and B, with a total of 15 gates. It is a focus airport for Southwest Airlines, which accounts for over half of all passengers. The airport is served by 9 major airlines, including:

• Alaska Airlines
• Allegiant Airlines
• American
• American Eagle
• Delta Airlines
• Frontier
• United
• United Express

In addition, several cargo airlines serve the airport, including Amerijet International, DHL Aviation, and FedEx Express.

The airport offers a range of shops and restaurants, such as Starbucks, Cinnabon, and Schlotzsky's. It also provides convenient ground transportation options, with Sun Metro routes 33 and 208 picking up outside the terminal and connecting to the El Paso Streetcar and Amtrak.

El Paso International Airport's history

El Paso International Airport (EPIA) is located four miles (6 km) northeast of downtown El Paso, in El Paso County, Texas, United States. It is the busiest commercial airport in West Texas, also serving Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico.

The history of El Paso International Airport can be traced back to the late 1920s. The airport's construction was inspired by a visit from Charles Lindbergh in 1927. Following his visit, the El Paso Aero Club began planning a municipal airport. On September 8, 1928, 10,000 people attended the dedication ceremony of the first El Paso Municipal Airport, located near the east side of the Franklin Mountains. This airport was closed by 1945 and is now home to a cement factory.

Standard Airlines (which became a division of American Airlines in the 1930s) built what would become today's El Paso International Airport in 1929 for transcontinental airmail service. In 1936, American Airlines "swapped" airports with the City of El Paso, and El Paso International Airport was established. During World War II, the airport served as a training base for the United States Army Air Forces. After the war, several airlines operated out of the airport, including Varney Speed Lines (now United Airlines), Standard Air Lines, Maddux Air Lines, and Western Air Express.

The airport has undergone expansions and renovations over the years. In 1971, a major expansion tripled the size of the terminal. Two new passenger concourses were built behind the old terminal, which was retained in the middle. El Paso has also been at the forefront of aviation technology, becoming the first airport in the nation to have a 130-foot air traffic control tower in 1968, and the first to operate with the STARS radar system in 2000.

El Paso International Airport's facilities

El Paso International Airport (EPIA) is located four miles (6 km) northeast of downtown El Paso, in El Paso County, Texas, United States. It is the busiest commercial airport in West Texas, also serving Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico. The airport handled 3,904,110 passengers in 2023, with 96,316 aircraft operations.

EPIA has two concourses, A and B, with a total of 15 gates. It is a focus airport for Southwest Airlines, which accounts for over half of all passengers. EPIA is served by eight other major airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, and Delta Airlines. Additionally, several cargo airlines serve the airport.

The airport features a range of shops and restaurants, including Black Mesa, Starbucks, and Cinnabon. The terminal has a pier-satellite layout, with a central entrance and gates located on the upper level. The lower level of the terminal houses ticketing, baggage claim, rental car services, and the main entrance. The meeter/greeter area is located just behind the escalators leading to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint.

EPIA offers premium reserved parking options, providing seamless travel experiences for passengers. The airport can be easily accessed via Convair Road, which has dedicated lanes for commercial vehicles and passenger pickup and drop-off. Sun Metro routes 33 and 208 are available for those using public transportation.

El Paso International Airport's busiest routes

El Paso International Airport (EPIA) is located four miles (6 km) northeast of downtown El Paso, Texas. It is the busiest commercial airport in West Texas, serving Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico. In 2023, the airport handled 3,904,110 passengers and 96,316 aircraft operations.

EPIA has two concourses, A and B, with a total of 15 gates. Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier at ELP, accounting for over half of all passengers. Other major airlines serving the airport include Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, American, American Eagle, Delta Airlines, Frontier, United, and United Express.

The busiest domestic routes from ELP (June 2023 – May 2024) were:

• Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
• Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona
• Dallas–Love, Texas
• Houston–Hobby, Texas
• Houston–Intercontinental, Texas
• Los Angeles, California

Non-stop services are also provided to other destinations, including:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Chicago (Midway and O'Hare)
• Denver
• Las Vegas
• Long Beach
• Orlando
• San Antonio
• San Diego

Frequently asked questions