A traveller has taken aim at one of Australia’s busiest airports after being left outside overnight ahead of an early morning flight, describing the experience as the “most ridiculous city airport in the world”.
Christine Nobles, who says she is from the Czech Republic but lives in Bali, shared her frustration online after arriving at Sydney Airport late at night and discovering both the domestic and international terminals were closed for several hours.
An aviation expert has told Yahoo News that the overnight shutdown is linked to Sydney’s strict curfew, which is among the toughest in the world.
RMIT University Aviation Academy Senior Manager, Justin Brownjohn, said Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport’s passenger flight restrictions mean regular services do not operate between 11pm and 6am.
“Sydney Kingsford Smith has one of the most stringent airport curfews in the world,” he said.
It is Australia’s only major airport with a legislated overnight curfew.
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport’s passenger flight restrictions mean regular services do not operate between 11pm and 6am. Source: Getty Images
Passenger questions airport’s overnight rules
Christine said she was shocked by the experience and questioned why a major city airport would not operate around the clock.
“Sydney has got to be the most ridiculous, big city airport in the world,” she said in a Facebook video.
She was frustrated that the terminals close at 11pm and reopen at 2.30am (international) and 4am (domestic).
Christine said the situation was made worse by the cold weather as she waited for the terminal to open to check in at 4am for her early-morning flight.
“Right now it’s like 11 degrees outside. I live in the tropics, so of course I’m freezing,” she said.
Christine also criticised the way she was being asked to leave the terminal as the airport closed.
“They just come to you, and they are very rude, and they’re like, ‘Leave the airport. The airport is closed’,” she said.
Terminal transfer adds to the frustration
Christine said getting between terminals also became difficult overnight after the airport train stopped running, and she had trouble arranging a rideshare.
“I’m at the international terminal, I’m supposed to be going to the domestic terminal, and the trains are not going,” she said.
She eventually arranged a taxi while waiting outside before her flight.
“I hate Sydney Airport. I promised myself I’ll never, ever come here again,” Christine said.
Christine took to Facebook to express her frustrating transfer troubles at Sydney Airport. Source: Facebook/Christine Nobles
Expert explains Sydney’s strict airport rules
Brownjohn said the airport’s operating hours were not a decision based on passenger convenience, but were linked to regulations, security requirements and the cost of keeping an airport operational.
“Airports are secure buildings that operate within very specific regulations,” he said.
“If the terminal were to be open and operational 24/7, this requires security and support staff to be rostered to ensure the safety of the travelling public.”
He said those additional costs would ultimately be passed on to passengers.
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Unlike Sydney Airport (pictured), the new Western Sydney International Airport will operate 24 hours a day without a curfew. Source: Getty Images
Brownjohn said that while the closures could be frustrating for travellers with overnight connections, passengers had options including nearby hotels, with some offering short stays.
“While it is inconvenient for the passengers in this situation with an overnight connection, there are multiple hotels within walking distance from the terminal,” he said.
“It seems the lack of research and some technical issues the passenger had in arranging transport — that are not the fault of the airport — have exacerbated her situation.”
The issue is unlikely to affect travellers using the new Western Sydney International Airport, which will operate 24 hours a day without a curfew when it opens later this year.
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