There’s something especially frustrating about airport chaos — the crowds, the queues, the quiet disbelief at the departure board. At Sydney Airport this week, it’s flights again making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Flight Cancellations Leave Passengers Stranded
More than 30 domestic flights have been cancelled at Sydney Airport, with many others facing delays stretching for hours. The disruption stems from a severe staff shortage among air traffic controllers, which has forced Airservices Australia to reduce the number of planes arriving and departing at any given time.
The organisation confirmed that “a number of staff” had taken short-notice sick and carer’s leave, leaving the system short-handed and forcing what it called “spacing intervals” for aircraft to ensure safety. The result: queues on the tarmac, missed connections, and a lot of frustrated travellers.
Airlines including Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia have been hit by the cancellations, with ripple effects expected to reach Perth and Brisbane later in the day. For passengers trying to make connections, it’s been a slow and unpredictable morning.
Flight Delays Spark Industry Outrage
The airline industry hasn’t held back its criticism. Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) said the delays were “problematic” and warned that any issue at Sydney quickly spreads across the national network. “Most aircraft fly in and out of Sydney on any day, so when there are delays it impacts the whole network,” said Stephen Beckett, chief executive of A4ANZ, to SMH.
Former ACCC chair Graeme Samuel, now the organisation’s chairman, was among those caught up in the chaos. His own flight was delayed for more than 90 minutes, and he described the situation as “outrageous” and “nonsensical.” “You can only use COVID for so long,” he said. “If Airservices hasn’t got its act together after three years, something is awfully wrong.”
Staffing Crisis Years in the Making
The staffing shortages have deep roots. During the pandemic, hundreds of air traffic controllers left the industry, and recruitment hasn’t kept pace since. A similar episode in February 2024 saw mass delays after just two controllers called in sick.
Airservices Australia says it’s working to fix the issue, adding 91 new air traffic controllers in 2025. Still, with the workforce stretched thin and sick leave entitlements uncapped, even a few absences can cripple the system.
Passengers Told to Expect Delays
Sydney Airport has urged travellers to check their flight status before leaving home and to allow extra time at the terminal. As airlines scramble to rebook passengers, frustration is mounting — not just for travellers, but across an industry tired of déjà vu.
For now, it’s another day of cancellations, queues, and restless waiting rooms. The skies over Sydney may be clear, but inside the terminals, patience is wearing thin.
