Travellers encounter more delays at Australian airports as school holiday rush sets in

The disruption at Australian airports is set to continue as the winter school holiday rush sets in.

Australian travellers have encountered more airport disruption on the first day of the winter school holidays.

Millions of passengers are expected to fly in and out of the nation’s largest airports over the next two weeks, with people warned to expect long wait times.

Airport authorities have welcomed the return of travellers, but have warned passengers to plan ahead and arrive at the terminal at the recommended times.

Frustrated passengers filmed long queues for luggage drop and check-in desks at Melbourne airport on Saturday morning as the holiday rush got under way.

It followed similar scenes on Friday, when some passengers were reported to have waited at the airport for hours after their flights were cancelled or delayed.

Sydney Airport has recently been trying to entice people to the aviation industry in order to fill its 5000 job vacancies. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

More than 2.1 million people are predicted to pass through the airport between June 24 and July 17, with airlines forecasting 1.6 million domestic travellers and 447,000 international passengers.

The same number of passengers are expected to fly in and out of Sydney Airport between June 27 and July 17, compared with 1.8 million travellers over the Easter Holiday period.

Sydney Airport was also busy on Saturday, with some passengers reporting on social media that their flights had been overbooked and their luggage held up.

Sydney Airport chief executive officer Geoff Culbert said their forecasts showed the school holidays were going to be even busier than what was seen in April.

“It’s terrific to see the ongoing demand for air travel but we won’t sugar-coat the fact that the terminals will be busy during the school holidays, and there will be queues,” he said.

Travellers have encountered more airport disruption on the first day of the winter school holidays. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Sydney Airport has recently been trying to entice people to the aviation industry in order to fill its 5000 job vacancies.

There have been widespread and recurring reports of Australian airport chaos in recent months — notably at peak times during the Easter break and Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

Airports and airlines have said a critical worker shortage following the pandemic is to blame.

Melbourne Airport chief executive officer Lorie Argus said the industry staffing remained an issue for “some operators” particularly in baggage and ground handling.

Airports and airlines have said a critical worker shortage following the pandemic is to blame for the disruption. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Distressed passengers travelling in the lead-up to the holidays reported instances of having their flights cancelled, being separated from their bags and in some cases having their luggage lost entirely.

The Transport Workers Union, which represents parts of the aviation industry, has attributed much of the disruption to Qantas’ legally contentious outsourcing of ground and baggage handling jobs to third party companies.

Qantas has apologised to customers who have had a delay in getting their luggage in recent months and said staff shortages are to blame.

Airport authorities are encouraging passengers to arrive about two hours early for a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.

Originally published as Travellers encounter more delays at Australian airports as school holiday rush sets in