Thursday, April 17, is shaping as the busiest day of domestic travel, says the airports association. Photo: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Airports across the country are bracing for ‘traffic Thursday’ as two long weekends and school holidays ‘combine’.
The Australian Airports Association (AAA) is expecting a surge in foot traffic as travellers combine the Easter and Anzac Day long weekends into an extra week of holidays amid school breaks for most of the country.
Tomorrow (April 17) is likely to be the busiest day of domestic travel nationwide over the Easter holidays, followed by Good Friday.
“We’re expecting a very busy Easter period at airports around Australia so we want to remind passengers to plan ahead and prepare in case of any unforeseen disruptions,” association CEO Simon Westaway says.
He also had a stern reminder for all passengers.
“We’ve seen several incidents recently involving disruptive passengers and that kind of behaviour will not be tolerated,” he says.
“All aviation staff deserve to be treated with patience and respect.”
Click here for more: midair scare among flights disrupted by passengers
He also pointed out that there is plenty of construction work happening at airports as well.
“More than $26 billion is being invested at Australian airports over the next decade to ensure that infrastructure and facilities can cope with growing travel demand,” he says.
Westaway says new data reveals airports recorded their highest ever monthly total of international passengers in January.
“Airports are not only managing short-term influxes, like those expected this week, but also preparing for the future as passenger numbers continue to increase,” he says.
“These construction projects are already under way in many of our regions, whether it’s terminal expansions, baggage upgrades or runway builds.”
TRAVEL TIPS
CHECK FLIGHT: Confirm your flight status before heading to the airport.
ARRIVE EARLY: Get to the airport one to two hours before domestic flights and three to four hours before international flights.
PACK SMART: Follow baggage guidelines and be cautious of dangerous goods, such as power banks and aerosols. Click here for more: Pack it right for a safe flight
STAY INFORMED: Monitor airport screens for updates and sign up for airline notifications.
