Sydney Airport: Chaos at all three terminals last night and today

Today’s (Saturday 9 April) newspapers are reporting similar disruptions in morning departure halls across domestic terminals T2 and T3 in Sydney, although one of my sources at the airport early this morning at 6:45 am says it wasn’t as bad as the picture heading this story.

Original Story, Friday 8 April

All three of Sydney Airports terminals appear to be in chaos starting Thursday 7 April, and continuing today Friday 7 April due to a combination of holiday travel, shortage of security staff, and bad organisation.

Queues at terminal 3 (Qantas Domestic) and terminal 2 (Virgin, Rex & Jetstar) are spiralling outside each terminal making it difficult for passengers to distinguish between check-in, baggage and security lines.

The Airport has apologised for the chaos, attributing it to the COVID related contact and isolation rules inhibiting staffing of security areas.

They are advising domestic passengers to arrive 2 hours early.

Passengers were warned

In a press release dated 28 March, Sydney Airport did warn passengers to get to the airport early over school and Easter holidays. Not sure that one got much coverage.

“Domestic passenger numbers have nearly doubled over the past six months, and we are anticipating this Easter school holidays to be the busiest the airport’s been since the start of the pandemic.

To help manage queues at security checkpoints and make sure everyone gets away on time, we’re encouraging domestic travellers to arrive two hours ahead of their scheduled departure.Greg Hay, Sydney Airport General Manager of Operations

Greg earlier today, graciously appologised for the chaos at the airport, unlike this aircraft chief . . .

Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce rebukes passengers

Alan Joyce in reported comments in the SMH said:

“our customers are not match fit”.

“I went through the airports on Wednesday and people forget they need to take out their laptops, they have to take out their aerosols … so that is taking longer to get through the queue.”

He also mentioned that the security area is short staffed due to COVID close contact isolations.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

BE WARNED – with 3 security lines closed out of 8 at Terminal 2, there may continue to be chaos at Sydney Airport whether travellers are ‘match fit’ or not. Get there early – like the suggested 2 hours – if you want to be on the safe side.

I am a complete nervous nelly when it comes to arriving at the airport, and always tend to get there at least an hour before boarding time. 2 hours makes me less anxious. However, its alright for me who can sit in a comfy lounge most of the time and do my work, get a drink or something to eat. For those in the main part of the airport, this is not always so pleasent an experience.

[IMAGE TWITTER/DEPPELER]