Air traffic controller shortage causes flight cancellations and delays at Sydney Airport

At least 30 flights were cancelled and dozens more delayed after runway movements were halved due to one air traffic controller calling in sick.

The absence of a single air traffic controller at Sydney Airport, along with bad weather, resulted in Friday afternoon chaos for travellers after flight arrivals were slashed from around 40 to just 20 an hour.

At least 16 Virgin Australia flights, 10 Jetstar services and six Qantas flights were cancelled across arrivals and departures, and dozens more delayed.

Qantas was hopeful of reaccommodating passengers on flights first thing Saturday if spare seats could not be found on Friday night.

A Jetstar spokeswoman said they had been able to get customers on alternative services while Virgin Australia was still racing to inform customers and reaccommodate them if possible after late notice from Airservices gave airlines little opportunity to rework schedules.

“Airservices Australia has implemented a ground delay program at Sydney Airport this afternoon due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, which is impacting all airlines,” a Virgin Australia spokesman said.

“We regret this has required the cancellation of some Virgin Australia services to and from Sydney today.”

He said guests booked to travel to and from Sydney between 2pm and 11pm on Friday “should monitor their flight information closely”.

In peak periods at Sydney Airport, there were normally about 70 aircraft movements an hour on the gateway’s three runways.

Slashing the rate of arrivals was designed to ensure the reduced air traffic control workforce could control the normally busy Sydney airspace safely.

It is understood the arrivals rate was initially reduced to 24 movements an hour because of poor weather, and then by a further four flights after a staff member of the air traffic control tower called in sick at late notice.

“We have since sourced replacement staff to fill the position, however in the interim flight cancellations did occur,” an Airservices spokesman said.

“We are working on all measures to minimise further impact, including accommodating additional flights wherever safe.”

The disruption appeared confined to domestic services, with international flights operating fairly well to schedule.

The spokesman apologised to passengers affected by the delays and cancellations, saying Airservices was disappointed this occurred after a strong performance over the Christmas period.

It was noted that ground delays were at “record lows” in recent months following a horror run coming out of the pandemic as air traffic increased faster than expected.

Generous redundancies handed out to 140 controllers during the Covid crisis left the air traffic regulator ill-equipped to manage the sudden ramp up in flights with remaining controllers left exhausted from constant callouts on days off.

As a result air traffic controllers frequently went ill or fatigued, causing widespread disruption for flights across the country.

A Senate Estimates hearing last February heard the unavailability of just two air traffic controllers in Sydney was enough to “stop the whole country”.

Airservices was in the process of recruiting more people for its towers and operations centres with an additional 85 controllers expected to be endorsed in 2025.

Originally published as Air traffic controller shortage causes flight cancellations and delays at Sydney Airport