Flight cancellations and delays occurred at Sydney Airport on the morning of September 11, 2026, caused by a shortage of air traffic controllers amid roster constraints.
Air Traffic Flow Management Measures Applied and Lifted
Airservices Australia enacted Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures at Sydney Airport to safely manage aviation demand amid controller shortages. These were lifted at 8:15 a.m. AEST, but delays of up to 10 minutes were still expected for the remainder of the morning. Some Qantas flights experienced delays exceeding one hour, and six flights were cancelled, including some operated by Qantas.
Airservices Australia Responds to Staffing Shortages
Airservices Australia is working with airlines to reduce delays and minimize passenger travel
impacts. The agency is recruiting additional air traffic controllers and aims to make it easier to call on extra staff when needed. An official spokesperson acknowledged the ATFM measures may have disrupted airline scheduling but emphasized ongoing efforts to mitigate these delays.
Senate Committee Hearings
Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp and other senior executives are scheduled to appear before a Senate committee on September 11 to discuss the aviation sector’s reliability and affordability across Australia, including regional areas.
Safety Concerns and Investigations
In about one month, six near-miss incidents were reported at Sydney Airport, including a July event involving two Qantas aircraft nearly colliding. These incidents have
raised concerns about fatigue risks among air traffic controllers amid global shortages. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating to identify any common safety or staffing issues contributing to these events.
