Sydney Airport Travelers Warned of Longer Queues During Double Strike Action

Source-checked update: This article brings together information checked against primary sources and independent reporting available at publication time. Full source links are listed at the end of the article.

Travelers using Sydney Airport on Thursday, September 24, 2026, are being advised to allow additional time because two separate industrial actions are scheduled to take place. Certis passenger-screening staff are due to stop work during two two-hour periods, while Qantas ground workers involved in freight and QantasLink operations are scheduled to hold a separate 24-hour strike.

The actions do not amount to a planned full airport closure. Security screening is expected to continue with reduced staffing, but passengers may face longer queues, particularly during the two scheduled stoppages.

What Happened

Certis security-screening workers at Sydney Airport are scheduled to stop work from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and again from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on September 24.

The security action is expected to affect the pace of passenger screening rather than close the airport. With fewer screening staff available during those windows, queues may take longer than usual to clear. The passenger warning is therefore focused on allowing extra time at the airport.

Separately, the Transport Workers’ Union has confirmed a 24-hour strike by Qantas ground workers on the same day. The action involves staff connected with freight and QantasLink operations.

These are separate actions with different operational effects. The Qantas ground-worker strike is not expected to affect ordinary Qantas mainline domestic and international flights, although it may affect QantasLink operations at Sydney and freight services. The available information does not support treating the event as a general suspension of Qantas flights or a broad airport shutdown.

What This Means for Travelers

The most direct issue for passengers departing from Sydney Airport is the possibility of longer security-screening queues during the two Certis stoppage periods. Travelers with morning departures may encounter the first disruption between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.; evening travelers may be affected between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The airport is expected to remain operational, and screening is expected to continue. However, reduced staffing can make the journey from the terminal entrance to the departure area less predictable. A queue that would normally move quickly may take longer, creating a greater risk for passengers who arrive with limited time before boarding.

Passengers booked on regular Qantas mainline domestic or international services should not assume that the Qantas ground-worker action will automatically cancel or disrupt their flight. The confirmed impact is concentrated on freight and QantasLink ground-handling operations. Even so, travelers with QantasLink bookings should check their service directly with Qantas before setting out, as the strike may affect those operations at Sydney.

Freight-related disruption is more relevant to cargo movements than to most holidaymakers or business travelers. The two actions should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that all flights at Sydney Airport will be disrupted. The clearest passenger-facing warning is the potential for longer security queues.

What Travelers Should Do Now

If you are traveling through Sydney Airport on September 24, allow additional time for security screening. This is especially important if your planned airport visit overlaps with either stoppage window: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Check your airline and airport information before leaving for the terminal, and continue to monitor those updates as the travel date approaches. Travelers should rely on direct information for the latest status of their particular service rather than assuming that the strike will affect every flight.

Passengers booked on QantasLink should check directly with Qantas because the ground-worker action may affect QantasLink operations at Sydney. Travelers using ordinary Qantas mainline domestic or international services should also confirm their flight status, but the available information does not indicate that the strike is expected to affect those services generally.

Build flexibility into your airport journey where possible. Longer screening queues can affect the time available for check-in, baggage drop, security and reaching the gate, even when the flight itself is operating normally. Allowing extra time is the main precaution supported by the current warning.

If your plans involve freight or cargo rather than passenger travel, check directly with the relevant airline or transport operator, as the Qantas ground-worker action includes freight services.

What Is Confirmed

Two separate industrial actions are scheduled at Sydney Airport on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Certis security-screening workers are scheduled to stop work from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Security screening is expected to continue with reduced staffing, and passengers have been advised to allow additional time because queues may be longer.

Qantas ground workers are scheduled to hold a separate 24-hour strike involving freight and QantasLink operations. Ordinary Qantas mainline domestic and international flights are not expected to be affected generally, although QantasLink and freight services may be impacted.

The action is scheduled for September 24 and has not been reported as resolved.

Sources

Primary sources

• HUNDREDS OF QANTAS GROUND WORKERS TO STRIKE AGAINST JOYCE-ERA TACTICS
• Flight Status and Disruptions – Travel Alert: Sydney Airport

Independent reporting

• Sydney Airport security screening staff to strike
• Sydney Airport faces double strike disruption as up to 400 security workers and 500 Qantas ground staff take industrial action
• Chaos looms as airport staff walk out

Editorial note

This Travel News article was prepared by the VibrantGateways Team using publicly available information and primary sources where available. AI-assisted tools may be used during research and drafting, with publication subject to our editorial verification process.

Links identified as “Optional source” are provided for additional context only. They have not been independently verified by the VibrantGateways editorial team, and VibrantGateways is not responsible for their accuracy, completeness, availability, or subsequent changes.

Travel information can change quickly. Schedules, routes, prices, entry requirements, availability and other time-sensitive details should be confirmed with the relevant official provider or authority before making travel decisions.

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