The Department of Transportation may close some parts of the airspace if enough air traffic controllers don’t show up to work, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday.

With flight delays on the rise nationwide, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautions that the situation may get worse the longer the government shutdown continues.

Airports across the country have already seen delays and cancellations due to staffing shortages as the shutdown continues.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that certain parts of the U.S. airspace may close next week if the federal government shutdown continues. The warning comes as the country reaches the longest shutdown in history.

The country's defence minister said the National Airspace Security Centre aims to be made operational from 1 January 2026. View on euronews

Belgium will work to improve surveillance of its airspace following repeated sightings of drones over its airports and military bases, Defence Minister Theo Francken said on Thursday. Belgium's Brussels and Liege airports were closed for hours on Tuesday evening after drone sightings,

Several airlines are offering the option to rebook or issue a refund for customers whose flights are impacted by the reductions.

Texas travelers could soon feel major turbulence as the Federal Aviation Administration moves forward with a 10 percent airspace reduction, part of an emergency plan to keep skies safe amid the ongoing government shutdown and nationwide staffing shortages.