Airport delays continue across Australia's east coast
Long queues and extensive delays are continuing today in airports on Australia's east coast as travellers head away for the school holidays.
Travellers are already waiting up to two hours to check-in at Sydney Airport.
The airport saw queues forming before 5am as chaos continues for a third straight day.
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Queues forming at Sydney Airport on Saturday morning. 9News
More than 51,000 travellers passed through Brisbane's domestic terminal yesterday.
Travellers are urged to leave plenty of time to arrive at the airport before their flight.
Airports across Australia's east coast were plagued by delays yesterday.
Sydney Airport's CEO Geoff Culbert and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce have blamed customers for being "inexperienced" and not "match fit" at travelling which has contributed to the delays.
"I went through the airport on Wednesday and people forget they need to take out their laptops and they need to take out their aerosols," Mr Joyce said yesterday.
"So that is taking longer to get through the queue."
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Crowds at Sydney Airport on Friday. Janie Barrett
Melbourne Airport is the busiest it's been in three years. 9News
Mr Joyce said "absenteeism" due to COVID-19 cases and close contacts is also causing the delays.
"Some days we come in and we have nearly 50 per cent absenteeism," he said.
Mr Culbert also apologised to customers, blaming the delays on a "perfect storm" of increased air traffic, "inexperienced" travellers thanks to the pandemic, and staffing issues caused by COVID-19 close contact rules.
He urged flyers to get to the airport early and be patient "as the industry gets back on its feet".
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