Shortage of air traffic controllers contributing to Sydney Airport flight delays

The government’s air navigation agency insists it is adequately staffed to cope with a resurgence in travel despite being forced to implement landing restrictions on an increasing number of flights at Sydney Airport due to shortages of air traffic controllers. Landing restrictions, which are usually put in place due to inclement weather or equipment outages, were implemented on 21 out of 31 days at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport in July, and have continued into August, according to multiple aviation bodies. While some of the delays have been caused by weather, illness and absenteeism among air traffic controllers has also contributed, the sources said. Airservices Australia, which employs the country’s air traffic controllers, rejected suggestions the increase in disruptions was due to insufficient air traffic controller numbers. “We have sufficient staff numbers to fill our shifts in Sydney and across the network. We need about 800 air traffic controllers to fully staff the system, and we have more than 900 on staff,” a spokesperson said. But the spokesperson conceded absenteeism caused by illness had contributed to the delays. Figures from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics revealed July was the worst month for cancelled flights across the nation since January. Airlines cancelled 6.4 per cent of flights in July, up from 5.8 per cent in June. The Sydney-to-Melbourne route experienced the most cancellations, with 13.9 per cent of flights cancelled according to the BITRE data. In perfect conditions, Sydney Airport can accommodate up to 50 landings an hour on the parallel runways and 25 on the cross runway. A ground delay program controls the air traffic volume to an airport when the projected demand exceeds the site’s capability to safely accommodate aircraft.<br/>