More than 30 flights departing Sydney Airport have been delayed this morning following air traffic control restrictions imposed by Airservices Australia (ASA), with some passengers facing waits of over an hour.
Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) CEO Stephen Beckett said 33 departing flights had already been delayed as a result of ongoing operational issues at the Air Traffic Control Centre and urged passengers to check with their airline for the latest updates.
A4ANZ is seeking an urgent explanation from Airservices Australia on the cause of the disruption and how long it is expected to last, as well as advice on the likely number of delayed or cancelled flights so airlines and passengers can plan accordingly.
Beckett said today’s disruption stemmed from rostering issues that Airservices Australia had for years committed to resolving, pointing to a broader pattern of staffing shortfalls in critical air traffic control functions.
“Flight delays occur for many reasons, including adverse weather and engineering issues,” Beckett said. “However, repeated disruption caused by air traffic control staffing shortages is entirely avoidable and completely unacceptable.”
Beckett said Australia’s aviation network could not continue to be disrupted because Airservices Australia was unable to adequately staff its air traffic control facilities.
Passengers travelling through Sydney Airport today are advised to check their airline’s website directly for the latest flight status information.
