Originally Posted by Nepotisim
Article from the Syd Morn Herald................
Qantas has postponed all its flights into and out of Perth airport for a three-hour period from 11pm (WST) on Friday night, the airline's chief pilot says.
Qantas chief pilot Captain Chris Manning said the postponements, between 11pm (WST) on Friday and 2am (WST) on Saturday, were due to safety concerns prompted by the closure of the airspace in the Perth terminal area by air traffic controllers.
"Qantas had deemed it unsafe to operate in this area due the downgrading of controlled air space which would impact critical ascent and descent profiles," Captain Manning told AAP.
"While we regret the inconvenience to our passengers, Qantas always puts safety first," he said.
Air Services Australia (ASA) employs the air traffic controllers that usually monitor the air space around the airport.
ASA spokesman Bryan Nicholson said leaving the Perth airport air traffic control service unmanned for these three hours was unavoidable after three or four years of abysmal staff planning and the associated current staffing crisis.
Mr Nicholson said pilots entering and leaving the air space would be self-monitoring the air space during this time.
Mr Nicholson said he was aware Qantas had postponed its flights but added that he was sorry.