Staff Shortage Disrupts More Than 150 Flights at Sydney Airport

Dragon Media News Desk

More than 150 domestic and international flights departing from Sydney Airport were delayed on Saturday as staff shortages affected air traffic control services for a second consecutive day.

From 7 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time, air traffic controllers introduced wider spacing between departing aircraft because Airservices Australia did not have enough staff available to maintain normal operations.

The disruption followed Friday’s delays and cancellations, which affected more than 100 flights at Sydney Airport.

Airservices Australia is a government-owned organization responsible for managing Australian airspace and providing air traffic control services at the country’s major airports.

Stephen Beckett, chief executive of Airlines for Australia and New Zealand, said Airservices Australia was struggling to roster enough staff in Sydney’s air traffic control tower to keep services operating efficiently.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Beckett said delays in Sydney can affect the entire domestic and international aviation network.

Sydney is one of Australia’s busiest airports, meaning disruptions there can have flow-on effects on flight schedules in other cities as well as on international services.

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said her office had asked Airservices Australia to provide a clear pathway for improving the situation.

Airservices Australia has previously said it is working to strengthen staffing, training and roster management to improve service reliability.

Following two consecutive days of widespread disruption, passengers travelling through Sydney Airport have been advised to check the latest status of their flights with their respective airlines.