Air traffic controller shortages have generated ongoing flight disruptions in Canada, Australia, and South Africa as of November 5, 2026. Insufficient staffing has led to delays and cancellations in these countries and the United States.
Countries including Australia and Canada are competing internationally to recruit experienced controllers amid the shortfall. Australia has seen some controllers transfer to overseas employers such as Qatar, while Canada has contracted an external firm to recruit eight foreign air traffic controllers willing to relocate. South Africa is limiting its recruitment from certain nations after losing 28 controllers between 2024 and 2025.
Causes Behind Controller Departures
Retirements and slow training
pipelines are driving shortages in air traffic control. Controllers leave for higher salaries, improved working conditions, better fatigue management, and enhanced leave and overtime policies abroad. Training new controllers is costly and time-consuming, worsening supply constraints despite global demand growth.
Country-Specific Responses
South Africa’s Air Traffic and Navigation Services lost 28 controllers within eight months and has set recruitment limits to avoid worsening shortages elsewhere. Its COO, Josia Manyakoana, said, “We don’t want to do that to any one specific country.” Indonesia, currently with a surplus of controllers, has agreed to deploy five personnel to Australia until 2030 under a bilateral arrangement.
AirNav Indonesia’s Setio Anggoro stated, “Australia needs more controllers and we have a surplus at the moment.” NAV CANADA describes its foreign recruitment effort as a “limited, targeted measure” reacting to urgency.
Official Statements and Union Perspectives
Scott Nugent, president of Civil Air Australia, confirmed, “We are aware of dozens of ATCs across multiple locations in Australia, including some in Sydney, who have either resigned from Airservices to work overseas, or are exploring the opportunity to do so.” Despite this, Airservices Australia reports its attrition rate remains within expectations. Nick von Schoenberg, president of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association, said his union, though generally
cautious of foreign recruitment, will not oppose NAV CANADA’s strategy “given the severity of the current circumstances.” A Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) spokesperson highlighted concerns over investing in training only to lose controllers internationally: “The (country) that trains a controller usually carries the full cost, even if that controller later moves on.” This has prompted CANSO to consider sharing training costs between training and recruiting organisations.
Global Scale and Industry Forecasts
A 2025 forecast by CAE estimates the global aviation industry will require about 71,000 additional air traffic controllers by 2034 to meet rising travel demand. Airlines and airports face ongoing challenges maintaining
safe and efficient operations. International recruitment efforts offer temporary staffing relief but do not address training bottlenecks or global competition for experienced controllers. Industry experts emphasize that long-term solutions require expanding training programmes and improving retention through better working conditions.
