Huge queues at Adelaide Airport as queues snaked out of the doors

Big queues are back at Adelaide Airport as the security checkpoint line-up snaked through the terminal and out the doors on Tuesday morning. Is this the worst it’s been?

Morning travellers were met with chaotic scenes at the airport this morning as queues for the security checkpoints coiled through the terminal and out of the doors.

Passengers were forced to wait in line as the peak travel time rush overwhelmed staff at about 5.30am on Tuesday morning. But the mayhem didn’t last, with the queues returning to normal once the early-morning rush had passed.

The advice for domestic travellers is to arrive two hours before a scheduled flight and three hours for international travellers.

The queues on Tuesday morning. The advice for domestic travellers is to arrive two hours before a scheduled flight and three hours for international travellers.

Travellers were forced to wait in long queues at the Adelaide Airport on Tuesday morning.

Back to normal – morning travellers seen at Adelaide Airport about 7.30am on Tuesday. Picture: Emma Brasier

Last month, Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox said issues were becoming more “frequent” due to staff absentees.

He said they plan for illness and Covid among staff, but rosters can be overwhelmed.

“We do have surge capacity and in addition you have people who can be drawn from other duties,” he said.

“When all this fails is when you see duplication. Twenty minutes doesn’t seem like much, but when you’re in a queue like that... it can feel longer than it is.”