Sydney Airport experienced multiple flight cancellations and delays on the morning of September 11, 2026, attributed to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Airservices Australia implemented Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures to manage aviation demand amid roster constraints.
ATFM restrictions were lifted at 8:15 a.m. local time (2215 GMT on September 10) after conditions improved. However, delays of up to 10 minutes were expected to continue for the remainder of the morning. An Airservices Australia spokesperson said the agency is collaborating with airlines to minimize scheduling disruptions and reduce passenger impact.
Qantas Flight Delays and Cancellations
Several Qantas flights were affected by the controller
shortage, with some experiencing delays exceeding one hour. Additionally, six flights were cancelled that morning. Sydney Airport’s website did not provide an explanation for the delays, referring inquiries to Airservices Australia.
Air Traffic Control Safety Concerns and Investigations
The disruptions follow a series of six near-misses at Sydney Airport within about a month. An internal report cited high fatigue risk among air traffic controllers during a near-collision involving two Qantas aircraft in July. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating these incidents to determine potential common safety factors.
Recruitment and Senate Committee Appearance
In response to staffing challenges, Airservices Australia is recruiting additional air traffic controllers and making it easier to call
on extra staff as needed. Airservices CEO Rob Sharp and senior executives are scheduled to appear before a Senate committee on September 11, 2026, to discuss the aviation sector’s capacity for reliable service delivery.
An Airservices Australia statement said the ATFM measures were necessary “to safely manage aviation demand.” The spokesperson added, “Airservices acknowledges the ATFM measures may have caused some disruptions to airline scheduling, and is working with airlines to reduce delays and the impact on passenger travel as much as possible.”
