A shortage of air traffic controllers caused flight delays and cancellations at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, adding to scrutiny of Australia’s aviation system as authorities investigate several recent near-misses at the airport.
Airservices Australia, the federal agency responsible for managing the country’s air traffic, said it introduced Air Traffic Flow Management measures at Sydney Airport because of roster constraints and the need to safely manage demand.
The measures were lifted at 8.15am local time after conditions improved. However, Airservices said passengers could still face delays of up to 10 minutes for the remainder of the morning.
“Airservices acknowledges the ATFM measures may have caused some disruptions to airline scheduling, and is working with airlines to reduce delays and the impact on passenger travel as much as possible,” a spokesperson said.
The agency said it was working to recruit additional air traffic controllers and make it easier to call on extra staff when required.
Several Qantas flights were delayed by more than an hour, while six flights were cancelled. Sydney Airport’s website did not give a specific reason for the disruptions, with an airport spokesperson directing questions to Airservices Australia.
The disruption comes as Airservices Australia chief executive Rob Sharp and other senior executives prepare to appear before a Senate committee examining Australia’s aviation sector.
The committee is considering the industry’s ability to provide reliable and affordable air services, particularly for regional communities.
The staffing difficulties have attracted increased attention following a series of incidents at Sydney Airport. Last week, a report citing internal records and a call recording said several air traffic controllers working when two Qantas aircraft came close to colliding in July had previously been identified as being at high risk of fatigue.
One shift manager reportedly described the staffing situation as “a bit insane”.
The July incident was the first of six near-misses reported at Sydney Airport within about a month. The incidents have intensified concerns over air traffic control staffing and working conditions as aviation authorities worldwide face shortages of qualified personnel.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the series of close calls to determine whether they involved common safety issues or contributing factors.
Airservices Australia has said it is taking steps to strengthen staffing levels and improve its ability to respond when additional controllers are required.
Friday’s disruption highlights the operational pressures facing Sydney Airport, one of Australia’s busiest aviation hubs, as authorities balance passenger demand with the need to maintain safe air traffic operations.
The latest delays are expected to add to questions facing Airservices executives when they appear before the Senate committee, particularly over staffing, fatigue management and the reliability of services at major Australian airports.
