Sydney Airport expects biggest holiday period in four years

With Christmas holidays closing in, one major Aussie airport is expecting its biggest festive period in four years, advising passengers to check in on time.

It is going to be a very busy holiday period at Sydney Airport this month and into early January.

The major Aussie airport is expecting to have its biggest holiday period in four years with 2.6 million passengers anticipated between December 14 to January 3.

It predicts 500,000 more passengers than the 2022 Christmas holiday period — a 95 per cent recovery compared to the same period in 2019.

And given it’s going to be a hectic period, travellers have been urged to arrive at the airport on time to avoid issues.

For domestic passengers, they should check-in one hour prior to departure if they have hand luggage, and two hours prior if they’re checking in bags.

Meanwhile, international passengers should arrive three hours prior to departure unless their airlines say otherwise.

It is going to be a very busy holiday period at Sydney Airport this month and into early January. Picture: David Gray / AFP

Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO, said the team is excited and ready to welcome travellers for the airport’s biggest holiday period in four years.

“We are delighted to have so many people taking off to see loved ones and explore this great country,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

He said airline capacity is now back to full strength, or beyond, to many key international destinations including the United States, China, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“This is the first Christmas holiday since 2019 that the border with mainland China is open, and demand is strong, with seat capacity back to pre-Covid levels as we head into 2024.”

He said international travel is booming and almost back to pre-pandemic levels and while it’s great to see so many Aussies heading abroad, they’re also excited to welcome an influx of overseas visitors.

It’s going to be its biggest holiday period in four years with 2.6 million passengers forecasted between December 14 to January 3. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

There are 1.1 million passengers expected to pass through the T1 international terminal — almost 300,000 more than last year or a 34 per cent increase, the statement read.

Meanwhile, a total of 1.5 million domestic passengers are forecast to pass through the T2 and T3 domestic terminals, around 200,000 more than last year or a 16 per cent increase.

Cutting baggage wait times

To help cut baggage wait times, the airport is giving $250,000 to ground handling companies that deliver bags to carousels faster at baggage reclaim in the T1 international terminal.

To help reduce wait times during this period, the airport has announced a new program it says will cut baggage wait times.

It will give a $250,000 monthly pool to be shared among ground handling companies that deliver bags to carousels faster at baggage reclaim in the T1 international terminal.

In a statement, it explained ground handler companies are contracted by airlines, rather than by Sydney Airport, adding its long-term goal is to have no passenger waits more than 10 minutes at a baggage carousel.

Sydney Airport’s goal is to have no passenger wait more than 10 minutes at a baggage carousel.

“Airports are complex ecosystems and technology and infrastructure are only part of the equation,” Adrian Witherow, Sydney Airport’s chief operating officer, said.

“You need complete alignment between every service provider to deliver a great outcome for customers, and this is what our new baggage incentive does.

“Nothing will make us happier than writing a cheque to baggage handlers for $250,000 at the end of every month because, if we do, it means our customers have had a great experience.

“Whether it’s speeding up the lines at security or cutting down wait times at the baggage carousel, we want to make every minute count for our passengers, so they can spend more time enjoying the journey.”

Other changes include adding new transfer check-in services at T1 international, installing new signage at key locations and moving the transfer bus stops closer to the terminals.

According to the airport, since the start of the year 95 per cent of domestic passengers have passed through security in less than five minutes and 90 per cent of international passengers within five minutes.

The airport also launched Indoor Live View to help passengers navigate their way around the airport’s three terminals a lot easier and faster.

Appearing on Google Maps, the new augmented reality feature provides arrows, directions and distance markers superimposed on the camera view to point people to where they want to go.

Meanwhile, travellers planning to park at the terminals are advised to book ahead before the Christmas rush — and to ensure they get a good deal.