Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert warns ‘another tough day for travellers’ looms for Easter getaway

Sydney Airport warns Thursday will be ‘tough day for travellers’ as staff shortages continuing to plague Australia’s biggest gateway.

Sydney Airport was bursting at the seams again on Wednesday but Thursday’s crowds will be even bigger. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Sydney Airport’s chief executive has warned Thursday will be “another tough day for travellers” as labour shortages continue to plague Australia’s biggest gateway at one of the busiest times of the year.

About 82,000 people are forecast to pass through terminals 2 and 3 on Thursday, the largest number since March 6, 2020.

In a worrying sign, CEO Geoff Culbert apologised in advance to travellers likely to experience significant queues due to staff shortages across security, ground handling and customer services.

“I know it’s a difficult message to hear but Thursday is going to be another tough day for travellers,” Mr Culbert said.

“We continue to have up to 20 per cent Covid-related staff absences on any given day and we’re working to rebuild our workforce in a really tight job market.”

He said through the school holidays the airport was pulling every lever available to get people on their way safely.

“This included deploying senior executives and staff into terminals to manage queues and ensure people make their flights,” Mr Culbert said.

“We are extremely grateful to passengers for their ongoing patience and also to our airport staff who have been working incredibly hard in really difficult circumstances.”

Holiday makers queue at check-in at Sydney’s domestic terminal. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Recruitment and training of new security staff had begun in December but the very tight labour market had made it harder than expected to expand the airport workforce.

“The roles that are being recruited are skilled, specialist roles and we won’t compromise on safety and security,” said Mr Culbert.

“As more staff join in the weeks and months ahead, we expect some of the security challenges to ease, but rebuilding the workforce will take time.”

Other major airports are also expecting their biggest crowds in over two-years with Melbourne forecasting 380,000 people to pass through the terminal across the next five days, an average of 76,000 a day.

Melbourne Airport CEO Lyell Strambi said the growth was pleasing but did present challenges.

“Covid-19 decimated airlines and airports and resulted in thousands of highly-skilled workers being stood down or made redundant,” Mr Strambi said.

“The airlines and their suppliers are now scaling up their workforce but given the safety-critical nature of the jobs they do; recruitment and retraining can take time.”

He urged travellers to arrive two hours early for domestic flights, and three hours before international departures to allow adequate time to get through security.

Travellers leaving from Brisbane Airport faced a half-hour wait for security screening at peak times in recent days with queues tipped to increase on Thursday.

A total of 56,000 people were expected through the domestic terminal, the largest number since the pandemic erupted, and only a few thousand short of 2019 figures.

Adelaide Airport estimated a crowd of 25,000 passengers a day on Thursday and Good Friday, and managing director Brenton Cox said all available resources were being put in place to cope.

“We’re doing everything we can to get people through the terminal and onto their flights, but the one thing we can’t control is last-minute staff absenteeism due to Covid,” Mr Cox said.

“We recognise (early arrival times for passengers) are not ideal but if we all plan ahead and with a bit of patience and understanding, we can get everyone on board safely and off on their holiday.”