Sydney Airport has been hit by major delays after a COVID outbreak swept through the control tower, forcing multiple air traffic controllers to call in sick.
The staffing crisis severely impacted departure operations, with flights limited to just 15 per hour for much of the day — around half the usual capacity at Australia’s biggest airport.
Airlines expressed fury over the disruptions but worked to shuffle passengers and reschedule flights to minimise the impact on travellers.
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Tower management initially warned the delays would continue into tonight, leaving red faces across the airport as frustrated passengers faced lengthy waits.
However, by mid-afternoon, airport authorities had scrambled to fill the roster gaps and flights returned largely to normal operations.
The timing couldn’t have been worse, with heavy passenger loads expected between Sydney and Melbourne due to the big weekend of footy finals.
Despite the earlier chaos, airport officials have promised there will be no further delays for football fans travelling to Melbourne for the finals.
The incident highlights the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on critical infrastructure, with the virus continuing to cause staffing shortages across essential services.
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