West Australians who are hoping to jet away over the coming school holidays are likely to have travel delays, with passport hold-ups adding to the woes of those bound for overseas destinations.
Over the next month, more than one million people are expected to pass through Perth Airport, where long queues are expected as the industry struggles with a critical worker shortage.
The WA school holidays begin this weekend, and the pent up demand from those looking to travel has put an extra stress on the system.
The long lines have already begun elsewhere, and Perth Airport is urging passengers to expect longer wait times in the coming weeks.
Makeshift barricades have been put up to manage crowds that are queueing up outside the Australian Passport Office in Perth's CBD.
Many expectant travellers have been affected by passport delays, with growing demand for overseas travel causing backlogs in processing at the Australian Passport Office.
Lisa Bagier was one of those at the Perth office this week and managed to have someone hold her spot in the queue so she could go for a bathroom break.
She hopes her youngest child's passport will be ready for her family trip to Singapore in time.
She said that initially, we didn't think there would be any issues whatsoever.
Some of the lucky enough to be leaving the Passport Office said they had been there for more than three hours.
I had a three hour parking ticket. Let's hope I get in within three hours, Ms Bagier said.
But those in line for their passports may have to face another long queue.
Transport Workers Union WA secretary Tim Dawson said that delays were inevitable during peak times because of the critical worker shortages in the industry.
We'll have to see a lot of delays. He said people will see people frustrated that their luggage has gone missing.
This is what has happened around the country. A large portion of the airport support workforce is new to the job after experienced workers were laid off during the COVID epidemic.
There are a lot of new employees out there who are going through training, according to Mr Dawson.
It's going to be a huge stretch on the airport itself.
We've had huge hold ups every time there's an increase in people travelling. Allow more time at the airport.
Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown anticipates slight delays but he urges travellers not to panic.
He said that it's probably similar to the Easter holidays we managed to deal with without too many hiccups.
Just give yourself a little bit of time longer coming to the airport maybe up to three hours before your departure, a couple of hours before for domestic flights. The almost one million passengers expected over the next month is only about 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, but COVID-related absenteeism is still affecting operations, according to Brown.
We're dealing with people who are unwell with COVID, across ourselves and our business partners. Perth Airport has implemented a number of measures in the lead up to the school holiday period, including extra contractors to be brought in, and a pause on construction that may disrupt passengers.
There are extra hands on deck to help with preparing people and getting through the airport, according to Brown.