Melbourne Airport expects about two million passengers to pass through its gates from December 19 to January 8 ahead of another influx for the Australian Open, which starts on January 16. Across December and January, Melbourne Airport will host six million people, an increase of 150 per cent on the previous summer period, which was stifled by stringent COVID-19 restrictions.

The airport expects a total of 4.2 million domestic travellers over the two months, 95 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic over the same period. More than 1.7 million international passengers will pass through, with December traffic more than five times the same period in 2021, which was the first time Victoria’s international border reopened.

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Melbourne Airport’s chief executive, Lorie Argus, said hundreds of new staff were preparing to work their first Christmas period. “We’d ask passengers to be patient as the team works to get everyone and their belongings safely where they need to be over the summer holiday period.”

Victoria’s state economy will be buoyed by 46,000 more international arrivals than departures over the holiday period, in large part due to the Australian Open.

Brisbane Airport is bracing for 3 million passengers to access its international and domestic terminals over the Christmas period.

Brisbane Airport has marked December 23 and January 7, 14, 21 and 28 as its busiest days during the silly season, and advises anyone travelling over the holiday period to arrive more than 90 minutes before a domestic flight.

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