Heat on airport over staff shortage

NEW Year’s Day travellers faced long queues and a jampacked terminal at Hobart Airport on Sunday as thousands of people flew off on holidays.

Footage obtained by the Mercury showed a long line of people waiting to pass through the security checkpoint, with some travellers forced to wait up to 30 minutes.

The security screening queue stretched all the way to the airport cafe and spilt into the baggage collection area.

One traveller, Tim, told the Mercury the check-in and bagdrop process was “a mess” and there were no airport staff managing queues.

Tim and his family arrived with “plenty of time” before their Melbourne flight but had to wait almost an hour to check their bags, and another half an hour to pass through security.

“Airline staff say there’s not enough baggage handlers and checked-in luggage can’t cope,” he said.

“No Hobart Airport people managing queues. Screening took us 30 minutes.”

While New Year’s Day has not involved as many flights as last week, Hobart Airport chief operating officer Matt Cocker said more than 60 flights were scheduled.

More than 8500 travellers were expected to pass through the terminal on Sunday.

“It’s in line with our previous couple of days and obviously it’s bumper summer season. Both inbound and outbound passenger numbers are pretty heavy,” Mr Cocker said.

“We make no apology for ensuring that safety and security are our No.1 priority.

“There’s not much point rushing to facilitate passengers through the screening point because, of course, we need to do the job correctly.”

Hobart Airport’s busiest days of 2022 were December 23 and 30, with 84 flights scheduled for each day.