A total of 2,732,000 passengers passed through Sydney Airport in February 2023, representing an 80.4% recovery compared to pre-COVID February 2019. The airport recently announced the passenger traffic figures for February 2023.
Domestic passenger traffic was 82.9% recovered compared to February 2019, with 1,726,000 travellers through the terminals. About 1,006,000 international passengers passed through the airport in February 2023, representing a 76.3% recovery on February 2019 passenger traffic.
Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said: “Momentum is starting to build in our international recovery with China now back open to tourists after three years of border restrictions. In December last year, we had just three airlines on the route flying only four return services a week. By the end of April, we’ll have six airlines onboard with 26 flights a week to mainland China.”
The data revealed by the airport showed that Chinese travellers jumped from 7th position of most popular nationality in January to 5th spot in February following the reopening of border.
“There’s still plenty of work ahead, with the number of Chinese nationals travelling through Sydney in February only 24.9% recovered compared to pre-COVID. The domestic passenger recovery at Sydney Airport has been stagnant since April last year, with reduced capacity and high airfares impacting people’s travelling habits,” added Culbert.
The airport reported recovery in the US passenger traffic with the volume of American visitors 80.9% recovered in February, compared to pre-COVID February 2019, and up from 75.3% in January 2023.