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Staff off sick cause massive delays at Sydney airport
By Mark Schliebs April 04, 2008 05:38pm
THE absence of three air traffic controllers who are on sick leave today has inflicted crippling delays on Australia's busiest airport.
Air Services Australia, which manages air traffic control, said the absence of half of the rostered staff had caused today's delays at Sydney airport.
All domestic flights, inbound and outbound, are suffering delays of up an hour and will continue to do so for the rest of evening.
An ASA spokeswoman said another controller had been called in to fill one of the shifts.
"This afternoon, three of our controllers from this terminal unit called in sick," the spokeswoman said.
“One additional controller has come in,” the spokeswoman said.
“We expect delays will continue this evening, but not after this evening.”
She said the unit had been understaffed since about 3pm (AEDT).
"We have fewer controllers than we'd have on a normal shift so we have had to reduce the number of arrivals and departures into Sydney to maintain safety."
Six air traffic controllers usually manned the Terminal Control Unit, but the spokeswoman said only four were now handling operations.
ASA could not comment if the high absentee rate was more than a coincidence.
"I can't speculate about how this relates to a general shortage of air traffic controllers but we expect the situation that affects today's delays to not be affected after this evening," she said.
Representatives from Qantas and Virgin had earlier said the airlines were not told why the delays had occurred.
At 5pm, about 20 planes were being held on the ground or told to remain in holding patterns above the airport.
- with AAP