Image: Photo: Andrew Harvey / Flickr.
Individuals planning to travel this Easter are advised to prepare for potential disruptions and longer wait times as Sydney Airport is expecting its busiest Easter in more than 5 years.
Sydney Airport is expecting 2.5 million passengers to pass through its terminals during this year’s Easter school holiday period, from Wednesday, April 9 to Tuesday, April 29.
During the peak 1 million passengers will pass through the T1 international terminal, making it the busiest Easter school holiday period since 2019, and a 9 percent increase on the same period in 2024.
1.5 million passengers are expected to travel through the T2 and T3 Domestic terminals, more than 3 percent up on 2024.
With 130,000 more passengers than last year, this represents a more than 5 percent increase in passenger volumes during the same 21-day April school holiday period in 2024.
Busiest April Holidays Sees Increased Airport Staffing
Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “We’re gearing up for our busiest April school holidays in six years and have boosted our staffing to assist the hundreds of thousands of passengers taking a break over Easter.
Charlton advised passengers to plan ahead to ensure a smoother journey, “check-in online, pre-book parking, and allow plenty of time to get to the airport.”
“Over the past six months, we’ve achieved a 99% success rate in getting passengers through security in under 10 minutes, and we’re committed to maintaining that efficiency during the holidays,” Charlton said.
“The ongoing growth in passenger numbers reflects the introduction of new services and increased capacity from airlines, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more flights and new airline partners throughout 2025. To keep up with this demand, we’re investing across the airport—from terminals to the airfield—to improve efficiency and enhance the experience for passengers,” Charlton said.
“While these improvements are underway, the journey through the airport might be a bit different than usual. We appreciate everyone’s patience and wish passengers a safe and happy holiday,” he added.
Screening upgrades at Sydney Airport T1 International
Work is ongoing at the T1 International terminal to introduce 15 new screening lanes, equipped with advanced CT scanning technology, with five new lanes already in operation.
This upgrade will increase screening capacity by nearly 30 percent, allowing passengers to leave liquids and aerosols in their carry-on luggage, while increasing passenger throughput from 4,500 to 5,850 passengers per hour.
The project is hoped to reorient priority screening ahead of passport control to make passenger flow more efficient and reduce wait times, with the full 15 lane upgrade expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Due to ongoing security upgrades, live security wait times for the international terminal on Sydney Airport’s website will not be available during the period.
85000 Passengers Expected on April 17
The busiest day is expected to take place on Thursday April 17 (the day before Good Friday), with 85 000 passengers anticipated to make their way through the terminals. The following day is set to see a peak of 53 000 travellers to pass through the international terminal.
Sydney Airport has boosted staffing to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger traffic and will redirect vehicles to the arrivals area during peak periods.
Travellers can also look forward to chocolate giveaways, festive Easter displays, and interactive photo opportunities throughout all terminals to ensure a fun and engaging experience for everyone during the Easter break.
To ensure a smooth trip, domestic passengers with hand luggage should arrive at least one hour before their flight, and two hours if checking in bags.
International passengers are advised to arrive three hours before departure, unless their airline provides different guidelines. For those planning to park, early bookings are advised to secure a spot.
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