Huge queues at Sydney airport amid mass holiday break exodus

Huge queues have been experienced at Sydney Airport this holiday period, in what officials are calling its busiest holiday period in three years.

Huge queues have rocked terminals at Sydney Airport amid a mass exodus during the Christmas and holiday period, during what the airport is calling its busiest holiday period in three years.

Bustling scenes were captured on Wednesday amid passengers’ travels over the Christmas and broader holiday break, just a day after thick fog blanketed Sydney, plunging the airport into chaos.

Passengers are seen queuing in long lines to check in at the Domestic Airport in Sydney on Wednesday, during what airport officials are calling the facility’s busiest season since 2019. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

One-year-old Harper Duggan, who’s birthday is New Year’s Eve, is seen with her older sister Mackenzie Duggan at the baggage terminal at the Domestic Airport in Sydney. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Despite the busy lines, airport staff reported 95 per cent of passengers were clearing security within 10 minutes.

No major delays were reported by a Sydney Airport media spokeswoman, either.

Airport officials forecast up to 2.2 million people would pass through the airport during the peak holiday period between December 12, 2022 and January 1, 2023.

The figures mark an 82 per cent recovery compared to the same period in 2019.

Domestic terminals were forecast to take in 1.9 million passengers over the same 2022 dates – a 91 per cent recovery in that same period since 2019.

Despite the busy queues, a Sydney Airport spokeswoman said 95 per cent of passengers were clearing security within 10 minutes. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

There were long lines to check in at the Domestic Airport in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

But the figures are an even bigger improvement on the paltry movement numbers during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, with major issues like staff shortages, airline delays and baggage mishandling also rocking the aviation industry in the months following.

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said passenger volumes had been building over each successive holiday period this year.

This included 1.8 million passengers coming through Sydney Airport in the April school holidays, 1.96 million in the mid-year break and another 2.04 million in September.

Airport officials have forecast up to 2.2 million people will have travelled through Sydney Airport in the window between December 12, 2022 and January 1, 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Culbert said the airport’s 800 businesses were closing in on pre-Covid employment levels.

“This is Australia’s first Christmas without Covid restrictions and it’s great to see people back flying and enjoying travel again,” he said.

“Some parts of the operation are still fragile, and we estimate we are around 2000 employees short of where we need to be.

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said this holiday’s numbers would build on increases reported during previous holiday periods. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

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

Last month, 2,966,000 passengers passed through the airport – a 20.5 per cent decrease on 2019 levels.

Mr Culbert said it indicated a major improvement which was inching towards pre-pandemic levels.