Controller Shortage Sparks Calls for Government Monitoring of Air Traffic Performance

The Australian aviation sector is facing urgent calls for government monitoring of air traffic control performance following a major disruption at Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport (SYD). A spike in short-notice sick leave among Airservices Australia (ASA) controllers in January 2026 caused widespread chaos. This single event led to dozens of Sydney flight cancellations and delays, affecting tens of thousands of passengers nationwide.

The Sydney Disruption and Network Impact

The January 15 incident forced ASA to implement "spacing intervals" for arriving and departing aircraft. This safety measure was necessary due to the critical air traffic controller shortage. Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar collectively canceled over 40 services. The disruption quickly rippled across the Australian aviation network, impacting flights in Brisbane and Perth.

Industry bodies, including Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ), expressed strong frustration. They noted that similar issues had occurred previously, calling the situation an "atrocious service" and demanding ministerial intervention. Airservices Australia stated that unexpected absences continue to expose staffing gaps, despite meeting its 2025 recruitment targets.

Ground Delay Statistics Highlight Strain

The recent performance data underscores the operational strain. Across Australia's four major airports—Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth—there was an average of 18 hours per month of air traffic control ground delays.

• Sydney accounted for the largest share, totaling 12.6 hours.
• Perth recorded 4.7 hours of delays.
• Melbourne and Brisbane had 0.4 and 0.3 hours, respectively.

Airservices Australia's internal goal is to maintain an average of less than 67 hours per month of delays linked to its services. The high concentration of delays in Sydney points to a resilience challenge at the country's busiest hub.

Calls for Performance Oversight

The Australian Airports Association (AAA) is leading the push for greater accountability from government-run airport services. In its federal budget submission, the AAA acknowledged that post-COVID-19 ATC staffing levels have improved. However, it stressed that maintaining consistent daily service remains an ongoing challenge, especially at major and regional airports.

To address this, the AAA proposed that government-run parts of airports be monitored for performance. This includes air traffic control, border control, and biosecurity services. The association suggested monitoring should occur "without financial determinations against agencies" to focus on operational improvement.

Regulatory Exclusion and Consumer Protection

The AAA's proposal comes as the government prepares new consumer protection legislation. Under the forthcoming law, air traffic control and border services will be excluded from the oversight of the new aviation consumer ombuds scheme. This exclusion means passengers cannot seek resolution for complaints related to delays caused by Airservices Australia through the new ombudsman.

This exclusion makes the AAA's call for separate government monitoring aviation performance even more critical. The association argues that these agencies significantly impact the overall passenger experience. Improving Airservices Australia performance is seen as essential for restoring airline on-time performance and public confidence in the national air travel system.

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