Delays over the Easter weekend led to thousands of passengers flying without their bags and airlines promising to courier luggage to their destinations. While most have now received their luggage,some travellers waited days for their bags to arrive.
This weekend,several hundred Qantas senior managers will volunteer at airports and assist with baggage. Virgin Australia said all available operational staff are helping at airports.
On top of staff shortages at the airlines and among contractors,Melbourne Airport has 120 jobs vacant in security,cleaning,maintenance and management after federal funds for the aviation sector during the pandemic didn’t cover airports or ground handlers. The airport is now working with councils to source nearby residents for the unfilled roles.
“We’re expecting demand for travel over the Anzac Day long weekend will again be high,” a Melbourne Airport spokesman said.
“Melbourne Airport corporate staff have been assisting passengers in the terminals during periods of peak demand to help take some of the pressure off airline staff.”
Qantas and Jetstar were due to fly about 400,000 passengers between Friday and Anzac Day,while Virgin Australia would not offer a specific figure but said hundreds of thousands of passengers were set to travel.