Flight cancellations and delays occurred at Sydney Airport on September 11, 2026, after Airservices Australia imposed Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures caused by a shortage of air traffic controllers due to roster constraints.
Qantas was specifically affected, with six flights cancelled and some departures delayed by more than one hour. The ATFM measures were lifted at 8:15 am local time (2215 GMT on September 10, 2026), though delays of up to 10 minutes persisted through the morning.
Controller Shortages and Recent Near-Misses
The shortage stems from roster constraints amid staffing challenges at Sydney Airport. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating six near-misses over
approximately the past month. One incident in July 2026 involved two Qantas aircraft nearly colliding, linked to controller fatigue risks.
Official Responses and Recruitment Efforts
An Airservices Australia spokesperson said the ATFM measures were enacted “due to roster constraints and to safely manage aviation demand.” The agency acknowledged the disruptions to airline scheduling and is working with airlines to reduce delays and passenger impact.
Airservices Australia is actively recruiting more air traffic controllers and simplifying procedures to call additional staff when needed.
Regulatory Oversight
Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp and other senior executives are scheduled to appear before a Senate committee on September 11, 2026, to discuss
Australia’s aviation sector capability. Recent controller shortages and near-misses have intensified scrutiny of air traffic control staffing amid global shortages.
