Published on : 28 Oct 2026
Security screening staff at Sydney Airport will strike again this Friday, October 30, in two windows timed for the morning and evening rushes — and the two main carriers have opened up free date changes for anyone who would rather not risk it.
Employees of Certis, the contractor that runs security screening at Australia’s busiest airport, plan to stop work from 5:00am to 8:00am and again from 4:30pm to 7:30pm (Sydney time). Screening will stay open during both windows but is expected to run at reduced capacity, so queues and missed-gate risks are the main worry rather than cancelled flights.
This is a separate date from the October 16 stoppage, and it comes in the middle of a run of industrial action at the airport that includes a Qantas ground-services strike today. Here is what travellers need to know.
Published: October 28, 2026 — Wednesday Strike date: Friday, October 30, 2026 Strike windows (Sydney time, AEDT): 5:00am–8:00am and 4:30pm–7:30pm Who is striking: Certis security screening staff at Sydney Airport, backed by the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) What’s affected: Security screening — open but likely at reduced capacity during both windows Virgin Australia: Free change to travel on October 29 or 31, no change fee or fare difference if you stay in the same fare type Jetstar: Free move to an available flight between October 29 and 31 via Manage Booking Advice from airlines: Arrive earlier than usual and allow extra time to reach your gate Different from: The October 16 Certis strike (6am–10am and 5pm–9pm)
The dispute is between Certis and its screening employees, represented by the TWU. The union says its members want more full-time jobs, fairer rostering and no cuts to part-time hours. It has also pointed to Sydney Airport’s profit and called on the airport to fund better conditions for the contractor’s staff. Sydney Airport has said it is not a party to the negotiations between Certis, its workers and the union, and that it is working with airline partners to limit disruption. Certis has said it is committed to constructive bargaining toward a fair and sustainable agreement.
The action is protected industrial action, which means it is legally sanctioned and can be repeated with notice — so further dates cannot be ruled out if talks do not progress.
Sydney is on daylight saving time (AEDT, UTC+11). Here is how the two windows translate for readers elsewhere:
| Location | Morning Window | Evening Window |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney (AEDT) | Fri 5:00am–8:00am | Fri 4:30pm–7:30pm |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | Fri 7:00am–10:00am | Fri 6:30pm–9:30pm |
| UK (GMT) | Thu 6:00pm–9:00pm | Fri 5:30am–8:30am |
| US/Canada Eastern (EDT) | Thu 2:00pm–5:00pm | Fri 1:30am–4:30am |
| US/Canada Pacific (PDT) | Thu 11:00am–2:00pm | Thu 10:30pm–1:30am |
These are when security screening may be slower in Sydney, not when flights depart. Check your own departure time against the Sydney-time windows.
| Airline | Free Change Window | Conditions | How to Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Australia (domestic and international services it operates) | Travel on Oct 29 or Oct 31 | No change fee or fare difference if you rebook in the same fare type | Via your booking on the Virgin Australia website or app |
| Virgin Australia (international flights operated by partner airlines) | Oct 29 or Oct 31 | Change fee waived, but any fare difference applies | Via your booking |
| Jetstar (Domestic Terminal 2) | Any available service Oct 29–31 | No extra cost; Jetstar suggests choosing a flight outside the strike windows | Log in to Manage Booking |
| Qantas | Not confirmed at time of writing | Qantas added extra staff and offered flexibility on earlier strike days — check the Qantas app or website for Oct 30 | Qantas app / Manage Booking |
If you fly with another carrier, check its travel alerts page directly — policies are set airline by airline.
Past Certis stoppages have produced slower queues rather than mass cancellations. The table below compares the strikes so far:
| Date | Strike Windows | Impact Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Late September (a Thursday) | 7:30am–9:30am and 6:00pm–8:00pm | Two-hour stoppages; one passenger reported about a 30-minute security wait; ran alongside a Qantas Ground Services strike |
| Friday, October 16 | 6:00am–10:00am and 5:00pm–9:00pm | Four-hour windows across domestic and international terminals; Qantas said about 80% of domestic and regional flights and more than 90% of Jetstar domestic flights left on time; an early-day international wait was under five minutes |
| Friday, October 30 | 5:00am–8:00am and 4:30pm–7:30pm | Three-hour windows, timed for the morning and evening peaks; screening stays open at reduced capacity |
The pattern suggests most passengers got through, but delays are most likely at peak times and for anyone cutting it fine on a tight connection.
With protected action now stretching across several weeks, travellers using Sydney Airport should treat the situation as ongoing until a new agreement is reached. Certis has said a fresh offer has gone to employees at an earlier stage of the dispute, but the union has continued to take action. We’ll update this article if the October 30 windows change or if further dates are announced.
Posted By : Vinay
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