Sydney international airport

Problems at Sydney Airport


There was a time when Sydney Airport could be called an International standard airport with facilities at par with airports in other parts of the world like Dubai or Kansai. However, that's not the case these days. The airport has consistently shown not only below average performance but also negative reviews from majority of businesses that service the passengers at the premises especially companies that provide airport transfers Sydney wide. In this article, we'll take a look at just a few of these performance indicators as well as possible solutions.

The passengers and businesses alike feel that the level of service at the Sydney Airport has fallen to historically low levels surpassing even the most sub-standard airports in the 3rd world countries. One fact supporting this is a survey in which frequent travelers to various airports in Australia rated Sydney Airport at number 5 out of 5 airports. Reasons for such a ranking are many, most notably the inconvenience and the long queues that pile up at the check-out and immigration counters. Another fact pointed out by these travelers was the over-crowded transport facilities at peak times. The number of incoming passengers is taking its toll on the transport services, namely the train and shuttle. Taxis used to be the most favored option to travel hassle-free up until recently. That's changed of course as taxis become more and more expensive. Compounding the situation is the occasional tactic employed by taxi drivers where they take a longer or more crowded route to a destination in the hope of generating extra fares.

In Sydney chauffeured cars have been on a constant rise due to a developing market in light of the increased passenger numbers at the airport as well as general usage for executive travel and weddings. The companies involved in this business typically employ many different types of cars and full-time professional and trained chauffeurs. The cars need to be immaculately neat and tidy with comfortable seating as well as being properly maintained. The number of people using these companies has continued to rise even through times of generally adverse economic condition worldwide.

The companies are given paid spots at the airport premises with unlimited "in and out" facility. Every chauffeur car has an e-tag on its windscreen that is scanned by the cameras and the amounts are automatically deducted as the car leaves airport parking. Chauffeured cars are now rivaling taxis in business revenues and number of transfers on daily basis due to their affordability and comfort. The chauffeured cars have precedence over taxis though, as they are allowed to roll up to the limousine pickup area right outside the arrivals terminal. Once there, drivers can either wait for their passengers inside the vehicles or go inside with a whiteboard to help in identification. However, the authorities at the airport don't allow them to go all the way in; they're just allowed to go inside the terminal.

What we need now, apart from an obvious second airport to share the burden, is to have the facilities and walkways re-designed especially at the international terminal which is the first place many foreigners come to on their arrival into the city. Also, it would be a great idea to develop some kind of transfer facility between Domestic & International terminal which are located at quite a distance from each other and terminal to terminal transfer can take a long time.