Flight cancellations and delays occurred at Sydney Airport on the morning of September 11, 2026, due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, according to Airservices Australia.
To address roster constraints and safely manage aviation demand, Airservices Australia enacted Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures at Sydney Airport. These measures were lifted at 8:15 a.m. local time (2215 GMT on September 10), but delays of up to 10 minutes were still expected throughout the remainder of the morning. Some Qantas flights experienced delays of over one hour, and six flights were cancelled.
Impacts on Qantas Flights and Official Responses
Qantas was the most affected airline, with several
flights delayed more than an hour and six cancellations reported. Sydney Airport did not specify reasons for these delays, referring inquiries to Airservices Australia. An Airservices Australia spokesperson acknowledged that the ATFM measures likely caused disruptions to airline scheduling and stated the agency is working with airlines to minimize delays and reduce the impact on passenger travel.
Airservices Australia is actively recruiting more air traffic controllers and improving processes to call additional staff when necessary.
Background of Near-Miss Incidents and Staffing Concerns
The controller shortage and resulting operational difficulties are amid increased scrutiny following six near-misses at Sydney Airport within about one month prior to September 2026.
Notably, a July incident involved two Qantas aircraft nearly colliding. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating these events to determine shared safety issues or contributing factors.
Internal reports previously flagged several controllers on duty during the July near-miss as at high risk of fatigue. One shift manager described the staffing situation as “a bit insane.”
Ongoing Operational Measures and Senate Oversight
Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp and senior executives were scheduled to appear before a Senate committee on September 11 to address concerns about the Australian aviation sector’s capacity to provide reliable and affordable air services. The committee’s focus includes staffing shortages and safety at
key airports such as Sydney.
Efforts to stabilize operations include increasing controller recruitment and streamlining access to additional staffing resources to prevent further flight disruptions at Sydney Airport.
