Saturday 2 July 2022 11:57 AM Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin chaos and delays at Australia's Sydney, Melbourne ... trends now
Family travel plans have been thrown into turmoil after airport chaos continued on Saturday as Aussies tried to jet off during the school holiday rush.
Passengers at Sydney Airport endured massive delays to check in their luggage as huge crowds crammed together in lengthy queues snaking through the terminal .
The T2 domestic terminal ground to a halt as the nation's airports continue to struggle to cope with passenger numbers and a critical staffing shortage.
The lines zigzagged through the terminal and even stretched outside, with airlines including Jetstar and Virgin affected.
Passengers are being told to arrive exactly two hours before their flight to help the airport manage crowds, with the delays expected to continue until at least July 18.
Commuters wait to check their baggage at Sydney's T2 Domestic Airport Terminal in Sydney
Queues of travellers gathered at the T2 Domestic Airport Terminal on Saturday as domestic airports continue struggle to cope with passenger numbers
Passengers are being told to arrive two hours before their flight to help the airport manage crowds. The delays are expected to continue until at least July 18
Sydney Airport predicted 2.1 million visitors would be flocking to the gates between June 27 and July 17
'We've tested the two-hour window and it's the sweet spot,' an airport spokeswoman said. 'Don't allow three hours, don't allow four hours, just allow the two hours or as close as possible.'
Under-staffed check-in counters, delays at security points and an influx of passengers have all been blamed for the chaotic scenes.
The wet weather conditions are also believed to have contributed to the delays.
Sydney Airport is facing a significant job shortage, after it shed about half of its 33,000 staff across the 800 business.
'There's still a job shortage of about 5000 roles at the airport,' the spokesperson said.
Sydney Airport predicted 2.1 million visitors would be flocking to the gates between June 27 and July 17.
Qantas and Jetstar are expecting 350,000 passengers just for this weekend.
