The typical airport chaos of the Christmas period is now filled with additional anxiety as passengers hurry to catch flights, fearing the latest COVID-19 outbreak could ruin long awaited reunions with loved ones.
A cluster of 17 cases on Sydney’s northern beaches is predicted to grow on Friday, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian warning the state to ‘brace’ for the results of a massive testing blitz.
The outbreak comes on what is the busiest weekend of the year for airports, when millions of Australians catch flights around the country for Christmas.
One couple from the northern beaches had arrived at the airport simply to find out if they could fly after struggling to get any help online or over the phone.
Enormous queues stretched right throughout the domestic terminals at Sydney Airport from early on Friday morning, an unusual sight after months of emptiness.
In the lines were travellers who had urgently moved flights forward after hearing Western Australia had shut its borders, fearing that states such as Queensland or South Australia would soon follow suit.
Among them were Ken and Leslie Fulham who told Daily Mail Australia they were desperate to get in the air and on their way to Queensland, fearing their first visit with their grandchildren in 12 months could be snatched from their grasp.
Ken and Leslie Fulham were desperate to get in the air and on their way to Queensland, fearing their first visit with their grandchildren in 12 months would be snatched from their grasp if the border was shut
After being empty for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sydney Airport was back to its busiest on Friday as Australians flocked home ahead of Christmas
‘We were very excited to be getting out of here, we haven’t seen our grandkids,’ Mr Fulham said.
‘But then yesterday and this morning we were very concerned, we’re just hoping it doesn’t turn into Victoria.
‘We just want to get up in the air and land without hearing an announcement that we have to turn around.’
Emily Kings was initially booked in to fly home to Perth on Thursday afternoon, which would have seen her arrive home before the WA border shut.
But with COVID-19 appearing under control, in recent weeks she changed her flight due to work commitments. Now she has to spend the next 14 days in quarantine.
‘I’m heartbroken, like just absolutely shattered,’ the 26-year-old said.
‘I’ve been living in Sydney for the last three years but my sister’s getting married and also obviously it’s Christmas.
‘Its been an emotional 24 hours to say the least. This is the third flight that i’ve had to fly home.
Candy Carter said she was not overly concerned about the Victorian and NSW border shutting on Friday but did hear her husband, who is remaining in Sydney for a few more days, could be left stranded
A cluster of 17 cases on Sydney’s northern beaches is predicted to grow on Friday, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian warning the state to ‘brace yourselves’ for the results of a massive testing blitz
A source of anger for many was the closure of the Jetstar service desk with passengers asked to join already packed phone lines for help with their queries
‘I was meant to fly home yesterday but I pushed it back to Monday so I could work all this week because I thought everything would be fine, and now I’m just getting out of here.’
Jo Gillies had already checked into an airport hotel on Thursday night ahead of her early morning flight when the no-fly rules for northern beaches residents were introduced.
The Balgowlah woman still turned up to the domestic terminal to seek clarification on whether she could fly and was left furious after discovering she could not.
‘I stayed the night at the hotel and then I turned up and I find out about this s**t show,’ Ms Gillies, who was meant to be flying to the Northern Territory, said.
‘It’s a total overreaction, it is kneejerk bulls**t.’
Adding to the stress for mother-of-two Candy Carter was the cancellation of her Jetstar flight from Sydney to Melbourne.
She said while was not overly concerned about the Victorian and NSW border shutting on Friday she was concerned her husband, who is remaining in Sydney for a few more days, could be left stranded.
‘We’re just going down to Melbourne and we’re going down to see family,’ Mrs Carter said.
‘I’m not too concerned about what’s happening but my husband is still here, he’s meant to be at work until Monday and then have his Christmas Party on Tuesday.
Mother-of-two Amelia Zaina from Glebe, in Sydney’s inner-west, was happy to be getting out and on the way to Adelaide just in time
One couple from the northern beaches arrived at Sydney Airport on Friday after being unable to get information about whether they could, or could not, fly
While the departure terminal at Sydney Airport was chaotic on Friday, just a floor below the arrivals terminal was almost empty
‘But I just said to him just do the job (on Monday) and then come down, because they won’t give you any warning if they just close the border.’
Marguerite McKinnon and her children arrived in Sydney on Thursday and were meant to stay with family on the northern beaches, ahead of their Friday morning flight to Brisbane.
Instead they had to check-in to a CBD hotel, with the mother-of-three determined to get onboard the plane to ensure they spend Christmas with their family.
‘When my family started ringing me on the way up yesterday I was like, ‘Oh no, here we go’,’ Ms McKinnon said.
‘My family wouldn’t let me stay at their house on the northern beaches, so we had to find a hotel.
‘But this is my childrens first ever flight, I cannot ruin the excitement now.’
While thousands queued for their departing Jetstar and Virgin flights, just a floor below the arrivals level was almost entirely empty.
WA Premier Mark McGowan closed to border to NSW on Thursday, while Queensland has declared the northern beaches a ‘hotspot’.