Sydney Airport is preparing for a busy festive season, with 5.84 million passengers forecast to travel through all terminals from 12 December 2025 to 26 January 2026, a 3 per cent increase from the same period last year.
International travel will set a new benchmark, with 2.70 million passengers expected through the T1 International Terminal. The forecast reflects strong demand across key markets and surpasses last year’s record 2.53 million international passengers, an increase of 6.5 per cent.
Domestically, 3.14 million passengers are forecast across the T2 and T3 Domestic Terminals.
The peak day for domestic travel will be Friday, 12 December, with more than 80,500 passengers expected. International volumes peak on Saturday, 3 January 2026 with more than 65,000 travellers expected.
Preparing for the peak
Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow plenty of time for their journey to the airport.
Domestic travellers with hand luggage are advised to arrive one hour before departure, while those checking in bags should allow two hours. International passengers should aim to arrive three hours prior to departure unless their airline provides different guidance.
In addition to increased staffing to assist passengers, vehicles may be redirected to drop off at the arrivals levels of all terminals during peak times. Passengers are encouraged to check Sydney Airport’s website for real-time updates on kerbside wait times and flight status.
For those planning to park, early bookings are advised to secure a spot.
“This holiday season will be our busiest ever internationally,” Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said. “The most popular destinations include New Zealand, China, the United States, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, with many passengers travelling to the Middle East or continuing on to Europe, Africa or Asia.
“With millions of people on the move there may be some queues at peak periods, and the roads around the airport will be busy, but we will have additional staff in the terminals and kerbside everyday during December and January to help passengers get away safely.
“Many of the upgrades we started at the beginning of the year are now complete, including upgraded security screening at T1 and T2, added new automatic bag drops, lifts and escalators at T2, and improved precinct operations to support the higher number of travellers.
“These upgrades use the latest screening technology to improve safety and help most passengers move through screening in under 10 minutes.
“A number of projects are still underway and will continue into 2026, so it’s important that passengers plan ahead, check in online and allow plenty of time for their journey.
“Early January will be busy with tourists visiting and Australians returning home, and this could put some pressure on international arrivals areas which we know are a pinch point.
“We are working closing with the relevant agencies to make sure resourcing levels can meet the forecast demand, and we have plans in place to try and mitigate any impact to passengers.
“We are working with the Government to install more SmartGate kiosks in 2026, but in the meantime, there will be the occasional queue at the border, and we thank everyone in advance for their patience.”
Major upgrades to enhance the travel experience
Sydney Airport has completed a series of significant upgrades across its terminals to improve the passenger experience during the holiday peak.
At T1 International, all 15 new security screening lanes are now complete, delivering a faster and more consistent screening experience. The upgraded lanes use the latest security technology and are designed to enhance safety and keep passengers moving, with an aim to get most travellers through screening in under 10 minutes.
At Terminal 2, six of the seven new security lanes are operational, supported by new technology that allows passengers to keep laptops and aerosols in their bags.
Works continue at T2, with six of the sixteen new automatic bag drops to be operational by the end of the year, along with two new lifts and two new escalators post-security. These changes support Sydney Airport’s commitment to get passengers from kerb to gate in 15 minutes.
At Terminal 3, passengers can expect a refreshed line-up of premium food and beverage offerings. Maggio’s is already serving customers, with further brands including Slim’s Quality Burgers, Icebergs, RaRa Ramen and Lou Lou, to name a few, opening throughout the coming months.
Behind the scenes, new baggage screening technology is processing more bags per hour, and improvements to bussing and transfers are in place across the precinct. While these changes will make moving through the airport easier, passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time to get to their flights.
Top destinations this Christmas
New Zealand remains the most popular destination this summer, with a 19 percent increase in passengers expected as people travel across the Tasman to see family and friends. The United Arab Emirates is forecast to see a 11 percent increase, reflecting.
China is projected to grow by 6.5 percent, supported by additional services throughout the holiday period, including China Southern’s expanded Sydney–Guangzhou schedule.
Domestically, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast are expected to lead, with demand also increasing to Adelaide and Hobart.
