SYDNEY: Passengers at Sydney Airport were warned of flight disruptions for the second consecutive day on Saturday (Aug 8) amid widespread delays caused by an air services staff shortage.
More than 150 domestic and international flights out of Sydney were delayed from 7 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time on Saturday as air traffic control enacted departure spacing because of Airservices Australia staff shortages.
It comes after over 100 services were affected by delays and cancellations on Friday.
Airservices Australia is a government-owned entity that manages Australian airspace and provides air traffic control services at the country's major airports.
Stephen Beckett, chief executive of industry group Airlines for Australia and New Zealand, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Airservices Australia was struggling to roster enough staff in the air traffic control tower to keep services operating efficiently at Sydney.
"When there are delays out of Sydney, it impacts the entire national and international network," he said.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said that her office has asked Airservices Australia to outline a pathway for improvement. - Xinhua
