Plans to introduce full air traffic control at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport have been pushed back for a second time, with the upgrade now not expected until next year.

Airservices Australia confirmed that the implementation of controlled airspace that was originally due to be introduced from November this year has been rescheduled to June 2026 following infrastructure issues at the proposed control tower site.

“A detailed analysis of the proposed site for the initial control service identified a number of infrastructure challenges, including line-of-sight obstructions,” Airservices said in a statement. 

“We are actively working on identifying an alternative site and refining the delivery plan.”

The changes stem from a 2022 Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) review that recommended controlled airspace at Ballina to better manage the mix of commercial jets and general aviation aircraft using the busy regional airport.

The plan was initially to introduce the Digital Aerodrome Services (DAS) mode – an unmanned system using cameras and remote monitoring by controllers in Brisbane  – but that proposal was scrapped last year in favour of a conventional, manned tower.

Airservices is now reportedly exploring options such as a mobile control tower to get around local site constraints.

In the meantime, the existing so-called Surveillance Flight Information Service (SFIS) system will continue to be used to support operations, along with improved ground-based tracking and recent radio frequency changes to ease congestion.

Local small aircraft pilots told Ballina News Daily that the delay would have minimal impact on day-to-day flying.

“While it’s the third busiest airport in NSW with respect to passenger numbers, in terms of aircraft movements, it’s not really a busy airport,” one experienced pilot said.

“There are maybe seven commercial jet landings on a busy day. This change is mostly about making it easier for big city jet pilots who aren’t used to flying into airports that share space with small recreational aircraft.”

The pilot noted that QantasLink crews, who frequently fly into smaller airports like Dubbo with far more light aircraft traffic, are well-accustomed to mixed-use airspace.

“It’s mainly Virgin and Jetstar pilots who may feel uneasy about the mix and really want the reassurance of having top-level professional monitoring at the airport.”

Despite the delays, the move toward a permanent air traffic control presence is viewed as a long-term safety enhancement for the growing regional airport, which continues to see strong passenger growth.

Industry insiders say finding the necessary trained personnel to be based at a Ballina control tower would also prove challenging and was also likely a factor in delaying the launch.