"Plan ahead" warns Sydney Airport as they expect to welcome 2.5 million Easter passengers

Sydney Airport Easter travel: 2.5 million passengers are expected to pass through terminals this year.
Thursday April 17 and Friday April 18 are set to be the airport’s busiest days.
“We recommend passengers plan ahead,” says Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton.
READ MORE: Sydney Airport is giving away $1 million to shoppers

Sydney Airport is bracing itself for the biggest Easter for international travel since before the pandemic, with 2.5 million passengers expected to travel through the airport’s terminals from today until Tuesday, April 29. That’s a five per cent increase on last year’s 21-day April school holiday period.

Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO, reassures travellers: “Over the past six months, we’ve achieved a 99 per cent success rate in getting passengers through security in under 10 minutes, and we’re committed to maintaining that efficiency during the holidays.”

There will be additional staff on hand to minimise queues and, to sweeten things up a bit, there will also be Easter displays, interactive photo ops and chocolate giveaways through terminals too. If you’re travelling through Sydney Airport this Easter, read on to find out how to make your journey as smooth as possible.

Sydney Airport Easter travel tips

1. Arrive early

Travelling light? Arrive at least one hour before your flight for a domestic journey if you’re travelling with carry on luggage only, two hours prior if you’re have luggage to check in for your domestic flight.

For those flying internationally, arrive at least three hours prior to your flight.

2. Allow extra time for security

Getting through security is often the most time-consuming part of travelling through airports. Make sure you arrive early to allow time for any queues.

The airport is in the process of upgrading things at the T1 international terminal—where 15 new screening lanes are being added to increase “throughput” from 4,500 to 5,850 per hour—and the T2 domestic terminal too, where part of the $200 million upgrade will focus on speeding up security procedures. These upgrades are still in progress though, so don’t rely on these just yet!

3. Avoid travelling on these dates

If you’ve not yet booked your Easter getaway but are considering it, avoid travelling through Sydney Airport’s domestic terminals on Thursday, April 17. It’s set to be the busiest day for domestic travel, with an estimated 85,000 passengers passing through the airport.

For last-minute international flights, avoid Friday, April 18 when 53,000 passengers are expected to pass through security scanners. Now that’s no way to begin your oversees escapades.

4. Listen to the experts

That means airport staff, who are there to help, as well as Sydney Airport CEO, Scott Charlton, who recommends “passengers plan ahead: check-in online, pre-book parking, and allow plenty of time to get to the airport.”

If you take these tips on board, plan ahead and just go with the flow, you’ll be on your Easter holidays before you know it.

FAQs

How long will it take to get through security?

There’s no way to know how long things will take when you pass through security, but Sydney Airport have installed helpful estimated security wait times in the banner at the top of the page on their website, so you can check how long queues are before arriving. Data is refreshed every 60 seconds.

If travelling domestically, make sure to arrive at the airport at least one hour before your flight, or two if you’re checking in bags. For international flights, arrive three hours before.

How do I travel to/from Sydney Airport?

The airport is located in South Sydney, just 8km from the Sydney CBD. There are several transport links connecting the airport with the city and beyond. For more information visit sydneyairport.com.au.

By train: There are train stations at both the International and Domestic terminals, with trains running every 10 minutes from 5am until midnight. Take the T8 Airport & South Line and reach Sydney CBD within just 13 minutes. To pay, you can either purchase an Opal Card from the station or WH Smith, or tap on with your Amex, Visa or Mastercard. For more information, including fares, maps, timetable changes and travel planners, choose from the links below.

By car: Driving between the airport and the city takes around 25 minutes in light traffic. Signs with the universally recognisable aeroplane symbol are visible on signs throughout the routes to the airport. Don’t have a car but need one for your time in Sydney? Several car rental companies operate at the arrivals level at T1 International and T2/T3 Domestic terminals.

You can pre-book parking or valet parking online to save time and money, and to guarantee a space.

By taxi: Taxi ranks can be found at the front of all terminals; just follow the signs to the nearest ranks. Journeys to the Sydney CBD will cost around $45-$55 one way.

Where can I find my check-in desk and departure gate?

We recommend checking in online before arriving at the airport, but you can find your check-in desk using the flight information screens in the check-in area on the departures level. Counters are positioned in alphabetical order from A to K.

Your departure gate can be found on your boarding pass or on the information screens around the terminal. You can also sign up for live flight updates by selecting ‘Stay updated’ next to your flight.

For any other queries or information, visit sydneyairport.com.au.

“Plan ahead” warns Sydney Airport as they expect to welcome 2.5 million Easter passengers