AFP Intensifies Airport Patrols as Australia Faces Record Holiday Passenger Surge
Hundreds of Flights Delayed or Cancelled Across Australia–New Zealand Corridor
DFAT Reminds Australians of 23 ‘Do-Not-Travel’ Destinations Ahead of 2026 Holiday Boom
Latest News
Brisbane Offers Free Public Transport and Major Road Closures for New Year’s Eve Crowds
Brisbane will waive public-transport fares across South-East Queensland from 8 p.m. 31 December to 5:30 a.m. 1 January and close multiple CBD bridges and streets to manage New Year’s Eve crowds. Employers and travellers should plan for altered bus, train and road access and build extra time into airport transfers.
Shenzhen Airlines launches first direct Melbourne–Shenzhen flights, adding 95,000 seats a year
• Shenzhen Airlines began thrice-weekly A330 flights between Shenzhen and Melbourne on 22 December 2025, adding 95,000 seats per year. • The direct link cuts travel time by up to five hours for business travellers and provides new cargo capacity for exporters. • Service is expected to boost Chinese visitor numbers to Victoria and intensify competition on Australia–China routes.
AFP steps up high-visibility patrols at Australia’s busiest airports as record holiday traffic surges
• The AFP has deployed 500-plus officers across nine major airports to cope with a forecast 23.4 million holiday travellers. • Police have already spent 130,936 proactive hours in aviation security this year and handled 21,000 incidents. Patrols will target intoxication, violence, drugs and prohibited items. • Enhanced security aims to keep flights on schedule and protect business-critical travel; companies should build in extra airport time and reinforce staff conduct policies.
Boxing Day flight sales signal airline confidence and long-range demand for 2026 travel
• Airlines used Boxing Day to launch deep-discount fares for 2026, aiming to secure early revenue and capacity planning certainty. • Cheap advance tickets benefit corporate travel budgets but require policy flexibility around pre-payment and change fees. • Tourism operators gain clearer demand forecasts, supporting workforce planning and regional dispersal strategies.
Last call: Jetstar’s ‘Day After Christmas’ sale ends tonight with one-way fares from AU$37
• Jetstar’s Day-After-Christmas Sale ends 27 December, offering AU$37–$46 one-way fares for travel in Jan–Feb 2026. • Discounts create budget relief for domestic business and FIFO travel but extras like baggage and changes cost more. • Strong uptake points to a buoyant 2026 domestic demand outlook, aiding airport and airline capacity planning.