Skyscanner analysis reveals which airports will be busiest this Christmas

Sydney, Bangkok and Moscow will be among the busiest airports over the festive season, according to research compiled by Skyscanner. The flight comparison site has analysed its booking data from passengers travelling between December 20 and January 10. Sydney Airport, according to Skyscanner numbers, should expect a 27% increase in visitors flying in and out … Continue reading Skyscanner analysis reveals which airports will be busiest this Christmas

Sydney, Bangkok and Moscow will be among the busiest airports over the festive season, according to research compiled by Skyscanner.

The flight comparison site has analysed its booking data from passengers travelling between December 20 and January 10.

Sydney Airport, according to Skyscanner numbers, should expect a 27% increase in visitors flying in and out of the Australian city compared to average visits throughout the rest of the year.

Skyscanner anticipates Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi to see a 26% increase on normal levels, while Moscow’s Sheremetyevo is expected to have a 26% spike.

Other airports which Skyscanner predicts will see a higher than usual influx of passengers include Milan’s Malpensa Airport, New York’s JFK, other Australian cities Perth and Melbourne, Hong Kong International, Dubai International and Narita International Airport in Tokyo, Japan.

The analysis also looks at individual days of the period, with Zurich expected to have the biggest single day boost – with 10.7% of its footfall between the dates on December 23, the last business day before Christmas.

Saint Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport is expected to see its biggest increase on December 30, with 10.3% festive visitors departing or arriving then.

Head of business development for Skyscanner Analytics, Faical Allou, said, “The festive period can be one of the busiest times of year for airports, with increasing numbers of passengers to process. Preparation is therefore key, and being aware of the levels of flights that will arrive at and depart from different hubs, ahead of time, is a key advantage.

“Skyscanner’s Travel Insight data is unique in that it can reveal detailed forward demand for routes, in addition to search and booking volumes based on the travel search engine’s more than 50 million monthly visitors. This kind of information can play a vital role in airport’s decision making and forecasting, as well as exposing commercial opportunities.”