The United Workers Union (UWU) has issued formal notice that security officers employed by MSS Security at Canberra Airport will stage rolling stoppages from 20–23 December, with the most disruptive 24-hour strike slated for Tuesday 23 December. The 18 December announcement follows a breakdown in wage talks, with guards seeking pay parity with counterparts in Sydney.
Although Canberra handles only 3 per cent of Australia’s passenger traffic, it is a key federal-government corridor and an important node for regional fly-in-fly-out routes. Business travellers and parliamentary staffers could face lengthy queues at security screening and potential flight misconnections. The airport has advised passengers to allow “significantly more” buffer time and to monitor airline SMS updates.
For organisations suddenly rerouting staff through international gateways such as Sydney or Melbourne to make tight connections, the visa implications can’t be overlooked. VisaHQ’s Australia service (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) lets travel coordinators confirm Electronic Travel Authority and transit-visa requirements in minutes, arrange express processing, and track applications in one dashboard—ensuring that last-minute itinerary changes caused by the Canberra stoppages aren’t derailed by paperwork.
![Canberra Airport faces pre-Christmas security strike; passengers told to arrive early]()
For mobility teams the timing is awkward: the stoppage overlaps with one of the heaviest domestic travel weeks of the year. Employers moving staff between Canberra and state capitals for year-end board meetings should evaluate remote-meeting contingencies or route travellers via Sydney and a connecting drive if critical.
UWU says industrial action may be withdrawn if MSS Security improves its offer. However, given protected-action notice periods, any last-minute deal would still leave staffing gaps for roster planning. Companies relying on unaccompanied air-cargo consignments through Canberra should also expect screening delays under Australia’s Known Consignor rules.
The dispute highlights broader wage-pressure trends across Australian aviation security. Similar pay claims are expected at Adelaide and Perth in early 2026, suggesting mobility managers may need to plan for sporadic screening disruptions well into the new year.
Although Canberra handles only 3 per cent of Australia’s passenger traffic, it is a key federal-government corridor and an important node for regional fly-in-fly-out routes. Business travellers and parliamentary staffers could face lengthy queues at security screening and potential flight misconnections. The airport has advised passengers to allow “significantly more” buffer time and to monitor airline SMS updates.
For organisations suddenly rerouting staff through international gateways such as Sydney or Melbourne to make tight connections, the visa implications can’t be overlooked. VisaHQ’s Australia service (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) lets travel coordinators confirm Electronic Travel Authority and transit-visa requirements in minutes, arrange express processing, and track applications in one dashboard—ensuring that last-minute itinerary changes caused by the Canberra stoppages aren’t derailed by paperwork.
For mobility teams the timing is awkward: the stoppage overlaps with one of the heaviest domestic travel weeks of the year. Employers moving staff between Canberra and state capitals for year-end board meetings should evaluate remote-meeting contingencies or route travellers via Sydney and a connecting drive if critical.
UWU says industrial action may be withdrawn if MSS Security improves its offer. However, given protected-action notice periods, any last-minute deal would still leave staffing gaps for roster planning. Companies relying on unaccompanied air-cargo consignments through Canberra should also expect screening delays under Australia’s Known Consignor rules.
The dispute highlights broader wage-pressure trends across Australian aviation security. Similar pay claims are expected at Adelaide and Perth in early 2026, suggesting mobility managers may need to plan for sporadic screening disruptions well into the new year.
