‘Breaking point’: Insiders say Australia’s air traffic control system is still a ‘boys’ club’

August 11, 2026 — 3:00am

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On the surface, the issue with Australia’s air traffic control system is simple. It has too few staff, and when they exercise their right to unlimited days of sick leave, flights have to be delayed.

But industry insiders and union representatives point to a much deeper organisational malaise. They claim that despite two external reviews six years ago, Airservices Australia (ASA) is still a fragmented “old-school boys’ club” rife with favouritism.

“Management had their favourites, and if you did not fit in with the ‘in crowd’ you were at a disadvantage,” says one former Airservices employee. A former staffer adds that even hires recruited from overseas, who Airservices actively court, are often treated poorly because agency leadership “just want to do it the same way it’s always been done”.

It’s easy to see how that could lead to staff shortages, despite air traffic controllers being very well paid, and even potentially the two near misses between planes on the tarmac in recent weeks. Who wants to work in such an environment,........

© WA Today