In its February 2024 report, the air traffic management body found that only 1.3 per cent of flights for the month were affected by ATC ‘capacity constraints’, the lowest level in 10 months, with 6 per cent of arrival cancellations also attributable to Airservices.
Digital aerodrome services use cameras and sensors to replace traditional physical air traffic control towers, and are faster and cheaper to construct. The digital tower, operated from a new centre at Eastern Creek in western Sydney, will be the first of its kind in Australia when it opens in 2026.
The overhaul is not expected to cause any disruption to ATC services, and will involve life extension on the tower’s infrastructure as well as upgrading internal facilities into a “modern workspace”, Airservices says.
12 per cent of ground delays and 1 per cent of arrival cancellations in January were attributable to Airservices, down from 16 per cent and 6 per cent in December respectively. The air traffic control body had attributed its December performance to “staff availability challenges”, mainly in Brisbane.
In its latest Network Overview report for December 2023, the body responsible for air traffic control in Australia acknowledged that 16 per cent of ground delays last month were attributable to Airservices, up from 11 per cent in October and November.
The new online portal will be used by up to 600 organisations, including airports, air traffic control and those involved in flight planning.