Australia’s standing as a top tourist destination is in jeopardy if urgent air traffic control fixes are not enacted, government and industry figures warn.

The head of government-owned Airservices Australia – which oversees air traffic control – has been taken to task by the federal transport minister after a near-catastrophic incident at the country’s busiest airport.

A Jetstar flight departing Sydney Airport for the Gold Coast almost collided with a Qatar Airways plane at 7am on Sunday.

The Jetstar Airbus 320 pilot was forced to brake suddenly to avoid a collision with the Qatari plane on the tarmac.

The Qatar Airways Boeing 777, which was not carrying any passengers, was being towed by an aircraft tug and received minor damage.

A Jetstar spokesperson said its aircraft was following instructions from air traffic controllers when the pilots were forced to brake firmly as another aircraft came into “close proximity”.

Airservices chief executive Rob Sharp apologised for Sunday’s incident, but insisted staff shortages did not put travellers at risk.

“We are sorry for our impact on flight delays and we understand the impact it has on travel plans,” Sharp said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

“We put in place measures that reduce the traffic levels to ensure safety, but this can lead to flight delays.”

Transport Minister Catherine King said she told Sharp improvements in rostering for controllers were needed immediately.

The company committed to new practices from September and highlighted a simulator training facility in Sydney to boost recruitment, King said.

“The delays and disruptions we have seen at Sydney Airport over the last three days have been unacceptable,” she said.

The poor performance of the aviation corporation was robbing domestic and international tourists of the seamless experience they deserved, the Australian Travel Industry Association said.

“Airservices Australia is the last major part of Australia’s aviation sector still struggling to recover from Covid,” chief executive Dean Long said.

“Staff shortages and processes that are not match-fit for today are causing significant disruption for airlines … and ultimately, Australian travellers.”

Sydney’s status as a top global tourist destination would be secure if the staffing situation was resolved soon, NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

But pressure on aviation safety in NSW is only increasing with the first passenger flights due to depart Western Sydney International in October.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into Sunday’s near-miss.

The bureau’s commissioner Angus Mitchell said flight crew, tug operators, air traffic controllers and other witnesses would be interviewed and relevant footage would be reviewed.

“Whether it was a breakdown in communication, in actually getting the right message to the right people or the co-ordination of it, we’re yet to ascertain,” he told ABC TV on Monday.

A ground controller and tug operator have been stood down.

Air traffic control was reportedly operating under restricted hours between 6am and 8am on Sunday, reducing the number of flights arriving and departing due to staffing shortages.

An injured Jetstar crew member received medical attention at the scene on Sunday. No passengers were injured.

Safety failures such as those seen on Sunday were indicative of an aviation workforce in crisis, a union representing air traffic controllers said.

“Across the aviation industry, this revolving-door workforce is understaffed and exhausted … that puts workers and the entire travelling public at risk,” Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said.

Sunday’s incident followed delays to more than 150 flights passing through Sydney on Saturday as airport operations struggled due to a lack of personnel.