AUSTRALIA | School holiday crowds are expected at Sydney Airport during July, with record travellers expected through the terminals.
Sydney Airport is gearing up for a bumper school holiday period, with almost 2.6 million passengers expected to travel through the terminals between Monday 30 June to Sunday 20 July 2025.
International travel is leading the growth, with more than one million passengers expected through the T1 International terminal, a nine percent increase on the same period in 2024. This makes it the busiest winter school holiday travel period in the airport’s history.
On the domestic front, more than 1.5 million passengers will travel through the T2 and T3 Domestic terminals, up four percent on 2024.
Overall passenger numbers are up six percent compared to the same 21-day period in 2024, with 150,000 more travellers expected this year, enough to fill 850 Boeing 737 aircraft.
Warmer destinations are in demand this winter, with strong passenger uptake on new and expanded services to Hong Kong, Istanbul and Vietnam.
Travellers should plan ahead and allow extra time, with the busiest day for domestic travel expected to be Friday 4 July, with 81,000 passengers, and Saturday 12 July for international with 54,000 passengers.
In preparation, Sydney Airport is boosting staffing across all terminals. For drop-offs some vehicles may be directed to the arrivals level during the peak times to improve traffic flow. Passengers can then access the departures level via lifts and escalators.
International passengers are advised to arrive three hours before departure, unless their airline provides different guidance.
For those planning to park, we recommend booking early to secure a spot.
“This is shaping up to be our busiest winter ever for international travel, which demonstrates the resilience of the sector in the face of geopolitical tensions and cost pressures,” said Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton.
“More Australians are taking advantage of new destinations and extra capacity, and that’s reflected in the numbers we’re seeing through the terminal. To keep up with this demand, we’re investing in upgrades to make the journey smoother, from faster security screening to more efficient check in and improved border processing. With our upgrade program well underway, and some temporary changes in the terminals, we’re encouraging everyone to plan ahead; check-in online, pre-book parking, and allow plenty of time to get to the airport during the holidays.”
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