What is Australia’s busiest airport and travel times during the festive period?

If you have clients travelling through Sydney Airport over the festive season then be warned that the airport is facing its busiest festive season since 2019.

A forecasted 5.8 million passengers are set to travel through its terminals from Friday, 13 December 2024 to Monday, 27 January 2025.

During the period, 2.5 million international passengers will pass through the T1 International terminal, which will make it the busiest Christmas season for international travel since 2019 and an 8 per cent increase on last year.

On the domestic front, 3.3 million passengers are expected to travel through the T2 and T3 Domestic terminals, a 9 per cent uplift on 2023.

The peak day for domestic travel will be Friday, 13 December 2024, with more than 81,000 passengers, while the busiest day for international travel will be Saturday, 4 January 2025, with over 62,000 passengers.

With 460,000 more passengers than last year, Sydney Airport will be 99 percent recovered compared to the same period in 2019.

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 level during peak times. Passengers are encouraged to check Sydney Airport’s website for real-time updates on kerbside wait times and flight statuses.

For those planning to park, early bookings are advised to secure a spot.

“This holiday season is expected to be busy, and while there may be queues during the busy period, we will have plenty of staff on hand to ensure passengers get away safely,” Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, said.

“We’ve increased staffing levels and are activating overflow drop-off zones at the terminals to
help passengers get into the terminals faster.

“We strongly encourage passengers to plan ahead and allow ample time for their journey.

“With our multi-million-dollar capital program currently underway, which includes significant construction works and security upgrades, passenger journeys may be different than usual.

“Once completed, these upgrades will significantly enhance the passenger experience, but in the short term, there may be some disruptions. We would like to thank passengers for their patience during the holidays as we work to deliver these important improvements and look forward to welcoming them this holiday season.”

Streamlined security for a smoother experience

As part of ongoing improvements, over the next 12 months Sydney Airport is rolling out 15 new screening lanes at the T1 International terminal, featuring advanced CT scanning technology.

This upgrade will boost 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 will reorient security screening ahead of passport control to make passenger flow more efficient and reduce wait times. Two of these new lanes are already in operation, 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.

New live kerbside wait-times for greater transparency

Sydney Airport has introduced live kerbside wait times on its website, giving passengers visibility into how long it will take to reach the kerb once they enter the airport precinct. This feature aims to reduce stress and make the airport experience as seamless as possible.

Tips for passengers:

To assist passengers during this busy period, Sydney Airport offers the following advice:

Arrive early: Plan to arrive at least one hour before your domestic flight if you have only hand luggage, two hours if checking in bags, and three hours before your international flight.

Prepare for screening: Ensure that all carry-on items are easily accessible and follow the instructions of security staff for a smoother screening process.

Check for updates: Stay informed about flight status and security procedures by visiting the Sydney Airport website.

Updated security screening

In line with the government-mandated security requirements, Sydney Airport is currently upgrading security screening technology and processes across the T1 and T2 terminals. During the works, passengers should follow the guidance of security staff and be advised that protocols may vary slightly across different terminals as follows:

T1 – Some lanes will require passengers to remove liquids and aerosols from hand luggage.
Please follow security staff instructions.

T2 – Passengers will need to remove laptops and aerosols from their hand luggage.

T3 – Laptops and aerosols are not required to be removed from hand luggage.