Travel Updates by DailyStraits.com

Sydney Airport’s Busiest Season

Sydney, Dec 9: Sydney Airport is preparing for its busiest festive season on record, with 5.84 million passengers expected between 12 December 2025 and 26 January 2026 — a 3 per cent rise on last year driven by surging international demand. Terminal 1 is forecast to handle 2.70 million international travellers, up 6.5 per cent on last year’s record, while T2 and T3 will see 3.14 million domestic passengers. Peak days include 12 December for domestic travel and 3 January 2026 for international flights.
Travellers are being urged to arrive early, with recommended check-in times of one hour for hand-luggage domestic passengers, two hours for those checking bags, and three hours for international flights. Extra staff and traffic management will be deployed during peak periods, and passengers are encouraged to monitor Sydney Airport’s website for real-time updates.
Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said the holiday period will be the airport’s “busiest ever internationally,” with popular destinations including New Zealand, China, the United States, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. He noted that upgrades completed this year — including new security lanes, automatic bag drops, lifts and escalators — aim to move passengers from kerb to gate in under 15 minutes, though some queues are still expected.
Additional SmartGate kiosks are planned for 2026, and further upgrades across T1–T3 will continue into next year. New Zealand is expected to see a 19 per cent rise in passengers, the UAE 11 per cent, and China 6.5 per cent, while Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast remain the top domestic destinations.

Malaysia Airlines Launches Global Year-End Sale

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 9: Malaysia Airlines has launched a Global Year-End Sale offering all-in return Economy Class fares from Malaysia from RM159 for travel throughout 2025 and early 2026. The sale runs from 11–22 December 2025, with Enrich members enjoying early access on 9–10 December and an additional 5% discount. Destinations include London, Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Jakarta, and leisure spots such as Krabi, Siem Reap, and Cebu via Firefly’s jet services from KLIA Terminal 1. Travellers can also access free Bonus Side Trips to selected domestic destinations and new Firefly routes until 31 December 2025, 20% off Seat Selection and Golden Lounge Access until 22 December, complimentary Wi-Fi and upgraded cabin features on A330neo services, plus up to RM50 off tours, lounges and passes via MAG’s Journify platform using their booking reference.

Airfares Surge on Demand

Sydney, Dec 9: Very strong demand for domestic air travel in September and October 2025 pushed up airfares, the ACCC’s latest Domestic Airline Competition report has found. Domestic airlines carried over 5.5 million passengers in October, 3.8 per cent higher than a year earlier, with load factors rising to 84.4 per cent and average fares reaching their highest level since December 2022. “While September and October are typically very busy months for domestic air travel, both the AFL and NRL featured interstate teams in their finals this year which led to additional demand for travel to Melbourne and Sydney,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said. “Airfares are typically elevated during peak demand periods, but the higher passenger levels in October 2025 placed additional pressure on seat capacity which pushed up airfares for consumers.”
The report also highlights Air T’s planned acquisition of Rex as key to preserving regional connectivity, and notes that Qantas Group and Virgin Australia now service about 98 per cent of the domestic market after three consecutive profitable years. “Rex provides important connectivity and competition across many regional communities, and Air T’s purchase of Rex is an important milestone in preserving this,” Brakey said, adding that “more competition in the domestic airline industry is essential to ensure consumers can enjoy lower airfares and more choice.”

WHOOSH! Travel Cleanliness

Sydney, Dec 10: Screen-cleaning brand WHOOSH! has launched its travel-friendly Digital Hygiene Kits in Australia, offering travellers a safe and non-toxic way to clean the devices they use most while on the move. Designed for phones, tablets, glasses and in-flight entertainment screens, the kits aim to help Australians maintain better hygiene during increasingly busy travel periods.
The company’s award-winning formula, already used in Apple stores worldwide, removes fingerprints, grime and bacteria without alcohol or harsh chemicals. With travel volumes returning to record highs, digital hygiene has become a growing priority for passengers navigating airports, hotels, cruise ships and public transport.
Mobile devices have been shown to carry more bacteria than a toilet seat, with travellers touching their phones hundreds of times a day after interacting with high-contact surfaces. In-flight entertainment screens and coated lenses on glasses are also prone to smudges and buildup, making WHOOSH!’s cleaning solution particularly useful across the travel journey.
Developed and manufactured in Canada, WHOOSH! Screen Shine is safe for all modern screens and optics, offering streak-free clarity and a fingerprint-resistant coating. The products are available in compact, TSA-approved travel sizes suitable for carry-on bags, camera kits or pockets.
“Millions of Australians are travelling over the holiday season, but very few think about the hygiene of the screens they use constantly during a trip,” said Allan Dall, CEO at WHOOSH! Australia. “Whether it is your phone, your glasses or the entertainment screen on a long-haul flight, WHOOSH! provides a safe, simple and convenient way to stay cleaner and healthier while travelling.”