Launceston Airport is expecting almost a quarter of a million passengers to pass through its terminal in the coming weeks as the busy festive season rush begins.
The airport anticipates welcoming around 224,000 holidaymakers between now and February 5, with crowds set to peak on January 2 when more than 5,700 passengers are scheduled to arrive and depart.
Melbourne tops the list of popular destinations for the holidays, with close to a thousand flights planned to and from the Victorian capital.
Airport CEO Shane O’Hare says the airport’s expanded route network is paying off, with load factors exceeding 90% across the board.
“Forward bookings for seasonal Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane services have been very strong so we expect a big holiday period here at Launceston,” he said.
“To prepare for the Christmas peak we’ve geared up operations across the airport with extra security, cleaners, retail and operations staff on to ensure your holiday takes off without a hitch.”
A Christmas market will be held in the terminal from December 19 to 24, giving travellers a chance to buy some last-minute Tasmanian-made gifts before they fly out.
“If you’ve forgotten to pick up a gift for someone this Christmas, we’ve got you covered with a curated collection of incredible artisans and producers in our arrivals and departures hall,” O’Hare said.
