More than 30 flights departing Sydney Airport have been delayed this morning following air traffic control restrictions imposed by Airservices Australia (ASA), with some passengers facing waits of over an hour. Beckett said today’s disruption stemmed from rostering issues that Airservices Australia had for years committed to resolving, pointing to a broader pattern of staffing shortfalls in critical air traffic control functions. “However, repeated disruption caused by air traffic control staffing shortages is entirely avoidable and completely unacceptable.” Beckett said Australia’s aviation network could not continue to be disrupted because Airservices Australia was unable to adequately staff its air traffic control facilities. Passengers travelling through Sydney Airport today are advised to check their airline’s website directly for the latest flight status information.