Sydney Airport is experiencing continued flight delays due to an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers, Airservices Australia confirmed. Rostering issues at Australia's busiest airport affected flights departing between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, with further delays anticipated.
The disruptions come as travelers face anxiety following three near-miss incidents on the runway, which have triggered an investigation by the safety bureau. Airservices Australia stated it is working to minimize delays and is committed to improving performance by working with airlines and union partners.
Last week, after the third near-collision involving aircraft taxiing on the runway, Airservices Australia announced it was cooperating with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to investigate the recent events. The organization emphasized that safety is its top priority and is collaborating with stakeholders including airlines, ground handlers, regulators, and airport operators.
Civil Air president Scott Nugent suggested that staffing shortages contributed to the incidents, indicating that the Sydney Airport control tower may lack sufficient resources. Airservices Australia, however, stated that it is actively recruiting more air traffic controllers than ever before, having added approximately 100 controllers in the past 12 months. The agency is also working to build a larger pool of standby controllers to enhance staffing contingency, reduce overtime, and ensure stable rosters.
In August, Sydney Airport has already seen more than 150 flight delays. Airservices Australia is introducing measures, such as adjusting scheduled departure times, to safely manage aviation demand and is prioritizing international flights amidst the operational challenges.