Sydney Airport begs passengers to ‘pack patience’ as Melbourne and Brisbane also brace for impact

Don’t bring Nerf guns into the cabin, say Australia’s biggest airports, as capacity booms for Christmas. Here’s what they recommend to ensure you don’t miss your flight.

Sydney Airport’s CEO has warned “some parts of the operation are still fragile” as Australia’s biggest airports are gearing up for their busiest Christmas season in three years.

More than 2.2 million people are expected to pass through the city in coming weeks, including 1.4 million domestic and 800,000 international passengers.

The airport will have up to 60 extra staff on every day to help manage the surge, but Sydney Airport boss Geoff Culbert said it is still about 2000 employees short of where it needs to be.

“It’s great to see people back flying and enjoying travel again,” he said.

“We are working hard to make sure most passengers will have a typical pre-Covid Christmas experience at the airport - busy but not chaotic.”

Mr Culbert said the 10 days leading up to Christmas will be the busiest, advising passengers to arrive two hours ahead of domestic flights and three hours early international trips.

Sydney Airport is looking forward to a festive atmosphere after chaos reigned in 2021. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Brisbane Airport

Meanwhile in Brisbane airport officials are promising a festive travel experience.

The airport this week announced a series of fun free activities so families can begin their Christmas holiday experience from the moment they enter the terminal.

Current forecasts indicate more than 3 million people will pass through the Sunshine State’s capital on the way to and from festivities, more than doubling traffic from the past two years.

Travellers in the domestic terminal can expect to find screenings of classic Christmas movies, biscuit decorating, carollers, roving entertainers, holiday-themed photo booth, and of course, the big man in red, who will make a number of appearances with Rudolph and his elves.

The busiest day of the year is expected to be Friday December 16, when 53,000 passengers will pass through the terminal as families try to get a jump on peak season.

“When Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is busy, so this is great news for jobs across the Sunshine State's tourism economy,” said Stephen Beckett, Head of Public Affairs.

Brisbane will set the scene for more movie-style reunions this year. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Melbourne Airport

Melbourne has also seen a surge in recent months with the return of major events such as the T20 Cricket World Cup as well as strong demand from the domestic and overseas markets.

Domestic passenger figures are up 5114 per cent from this time last year, while international passenger figures have grown 4820 per cent over the same period.

“We now have thousands more seats and extra cargo capacity after Qatar Airways added a second daily flight from Melbourne to Doha, and United Airlines resumed flights to Los Angeles while increasing its San Francisco service to daily,” said Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus.

Demand is expected to remain high after the holiday season with Australia battling South Africa in the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open returning in January.

Passengers are advised to arrive two hours early for domestic flights. Picture: David Crosling

Top tips to channel Rudolph at the airport

Here’s what Australia’s airport bosses suggest to ensure you hang onto your festive cheer.

• Pre-book parking well in advance. Booking a car space when you book your flight will save a lot of hassle, ensuring a seamless transition from traffic to terminal.

• Check-in online. Download the app for the airline you’re flying and check-in up to 24 hours ahead of your flight so you can skip the desk and head straight to security.

• Save wrapping until arrival. You may be asked to open your perfectly wrapped presents at security, so either check them in or save the ribbon until you get to your destination. Also, don’t bring dangerous-looking gifts into the cabin - even Nerf guns are on the naughty list.

• Label your luggage. Get rid of all your old tags and barcodes before you leave home to save time in the queue and ensure your bags are clearly labelled, just in case.

• Pack your patience. It’s been a huge year and everyone is keen to escape. Remember airport teams are doing they best they can to get you where you need to go.

Originally published as Sydney Airport begs passengers to ‘pack patience’ as Melbourne and Brisbane also brace for impact