The Transport Workers’ Union confirmed that hundreds of Certis security screeners at Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport will strike on Friday 16 October from 06:00-10:00 and 17:00-21:00, demanding more full-time jobs and fair rosters. Qantas responded on 15 October by offering fee-free date changes for passengers booked on affected flights, while Virgin Australia and Thai Airways have issued similar waivers. Sydney Airport advises travellers to arrive early and has activated contingency staff, but security-queue delays are likely—particularly for the morning wave of domestic departures and the mid-evening international bank. Business travellers with tight same-day itineraries should consider rebooking to flights outside the strike windows or transiting via Melbourne or Brisbane. For companies with corporate fares, waiver conditions vary: Qantas allows changes to flights on 15–17 October provided the origin-destination pair and cabin remain the same, while Virgin is letting guests move to 15 or 17 October services at no charge. The stoppage is the latest in a series of aviation-sector industrial disputes and underscores ongoing labour-supply challenges as traffic rebounds. Negotiations between Certis and the TWU will resume next week, but further action has not been ruled out.
Source: CAPA / Qantas Travel Updates
