Flight cancellations and delays hit Sydney Airport on the morning of 11 September 2026 due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The disruptions included six cancelled Qantas flights and multiple Qantas delays exceeding one hour.
Air Traffic Flow Management Measures Enacted and Lifted
Airservices Australia implemented Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures due to roster constraints among controllers. The ATFM restrictions were lifted at 8:15 a.m. local time (2215 GMT on 10 September) following improved staffing conditions. Despite lifting ATFM measures, delays of up to 10 minutes were expected to continue for the remainder of the morning.
Impact on Qantas Flights and Official Response
Qantas had six flights cancelled and some faced delays exceeding
one hour at Sydney Airport. An Airservices Australia spokesperson acknowledged the ATFM measures disrupted airline schedules and said the agency is working with airlines to reduce delays and limit passenger impact. Airservices Australia is recruiting more air traffic controllers and making it easier to call on additional staff to safely manage aviation demand.
Safety Concerns and Ongoing Investigations
The staffing shortage follows a series of six recent near-misses at Sydney Airport, prompting investigations by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). A notable incident in July involved two Qantas aircraft nearly colliding, raising concerns over controller fatigue. The ATSB is investigating these near-misses to determine safety
issues or contributing factors.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Senate Committee Review
Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp and senior executives are scheduled to appear before a Senate committee examining Australia’s aviation sector reliability and affordability, especially in regional areas. The disruptions and investigations come amid a global shortage of air traffic controllers affecting Sydney Airport operations.
