Flight cancellations and delays disrupted operations at Sydney Airport on the morning of Friday, September 11, 2026, after Airservices Australia implemented Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures due to a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by roster constraints.
These ATFM restrictions were lifted at 8:15 a.m. AEDT (2215 GMT on September 10), after which minor delays of no more than 10 minutes were expected to persist through the remainder of the morning.
Qantas Flights Significantly Affected
Qantas experienced the brunt of the disruptions, with six flights cancelled and additional flights delayed by more than one hour. The airline’s scheduling was notably impacted as
a result of the staffing shortages at Sydney Airport.
Cause of Disruptions and Recruitment Efforts
The disruptions stemmed from a shortage of air traffic controllers, attributed to roster constraints. Airservices Australia is actively recruiting new controllers and working to improve processes for calling in additional staff when necessary to manage aviation demand safely.
Safety Investigations and Senate Committee Hearing
Airservices Australia is investigating multiple recent near-miss incidents involving air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport. These incidents occurred within the past month, prompting heightened scrutiny of staffing levels amid global controller shortages. Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp and senior executives are scheduled to appear before a Senate committee examining Australia’s aviation sector reliability
and regional service provision.
