Melbourne airport faces busiest day since pre-pandemic ahead of Taylor Swift concerts

Melbourne airport is facing its busiest day since before the pandemic and one-way domestic prices are surging in excess of $1,500 as Swiftie mania descends on the capital city.

The pop superstar Taylor Swift has already touched down for the Australian leg of the sold-out Eras Tour, but the journey is just beginning for thousands of interstate fans making the trek to Melbourne ahead of her Friday night concert.

A spokesperson for Melbourne airport said 117,000 passengers were expected to move through terminals on Friday – a post-Covid record. There were 775 take-offs and landings scheduled, also a record number.

“Airlines such as Qantas and Virgin Australia have added extra flights from key domestic destinations, and there are also extra flights operating from New Zealand to allow people to get to the concerts this weekend,” the spokesperson said.

“February is typically the quietest month for travel, so to be breaking records today is extraordinary.”

Social media users have reported an “electric” atmosphere on domestic flights to Melbourne, with a video of flight attendants dancing to Shake it Off going viral and an entire flight from Perth bursting in to an impromptu rendition of Cruel Summer.

Qantas added 60 additional flights in June last year to gear up for concert demand, including 24 additional flights between Sydney and Melbourne.

In early February, a further four return flights were added between Melbourne and Auckland, Brisbane and Perth.

The airline carrier is gearing up to carry 35% more passengers into Melbourne from its domestic and trans-Tasman network over the concert period compared with the same time last year.

It came amid a 350% surge in bookings between New Zealand and Melbourne at the time of presale compared to the same time last year.

For Swifties lucky enough to secure a last-minute ticket to Friday’s concert, the next battle will be facing last-minute one-way flight costs – in excess of $1,000 – to make it to Melbourne in time.

There were just a handful of options left from Sydney to Melbourne on Jetstar’s website as of Friday morning, with prices ranging from $317 to $1,048 one way.

Virgin was similarly pinched, with just half a dozen flights available that would get superfans to the MCG from Sydney by 6.30pm – costing from $551 to $859 economy one way.

Qantas had half hourly flights available for the popular route from midday and flights every 10 to 15 minutes through from five to 7pm – but it would cost you. The cheapest option was $648 for economy, surging up to $1,630 for a business seat one way.

The Melbourne airport spokesperson said due to the surging number of arriving passengers, staff had been working with ground transport operators to keep up with demand.

Skybus had put on an extra six buses on Friday to assist with transfers to the city, while additional customer service staff were stationed around terminals to help arriving passengers.

It comes amid controversy over Swift’s heavy emitter status due to her penchant for private jet travel.

More than 6,000 enthusiastic fans watched flight VJT993 carry Swift from Honolulu to Melbourne on Thursday evening – becoming the globe’s most tracked aeroplane.