Delays plague Sydney Airport amid air traffic controller shortage

Sydney Airport is facing more disruption as Airservices Australia works through an air traffic controller shortage at Australia’s busiest airport. The operator said rostering issues affect flights departing between 1:30pm and 5pm on Wednesday, with further delays expected through the evening. Qantas alone was preparing for 33 delayed flights, each pushed back by as much as an hour, and international services were understood to be prioritized. In August alone, Sydney has already seen more than 150 delays, and Airservices is introducing measures such as delaying scheduled departure times to “safely manage aviation demand.” The staffing strain comes after three near-misses on the runway earlier this month triggered a safety bureau investigation.