How Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, India, Cambodia Brace For Busy Travel Chaos as Millions of Tourists Are Travelling as Easter Holiday Weekend Starts - Travel And Tour World (2025)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

How Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, India, and Cambodia brace for busy travel chaos as millions of tourists are travelling as Easter holiday weekend starts has become the central question for Asia-Pacific travel authorities, airlines, and airports this April. As the Easter holiday weekend starts, millions of tourists are flooding departure halls, boarding gates, and check-in counters, pushing capacity and operations to their limits. With Easter now doubling as a peak travel period across both secular and religious tourism destinations, how these countries brace for the unprecedented chaos will define the region’s aviation resilience.

Australia and New Zealand brace for waves of outbound and domestic tourists, while the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, India, and Cambodia brace for the dual impact of inbound leisure travelers and mass internal migration. Airports from Sydney to Shanghai are operating at or above pre-pandemic volume, with delays, congestion, and frustration mounting.

The Philippines and Indonesia, being archipelagic nations, brace for ferry-airport transfers under strain, while China and India brace for overwhelming domestic volume as citizens take advantage of long weekends and discounted holiday fares. Vietnam and Sri Lanka brace for surges in religious and cultural travel, and Cambodia braces for tourist influx targeting Angkor Wat and other heritage sites.

Australia – Connected Airlines

• Qantas Airways (Australia’s national carrier)
• Jetstar Airways (Low-cost subsidiary of Qantas)
• Virgin Australia
• Air New Zealand
• Philippine Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Vietnam Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• Air China
• China Southern Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• Air India
• IndiGo
• Cambodia Angkor Air (via codeshare or regional)

New Zealand – Connected Airlines

• Air New Zealand
• Qantas Airways
• Jetstar Airways
• China Southern Airlines
• Air China
• Philippine Airlines
• Singapore Airlines (common connector)
• Vietnam Airlines (via connecting hubs)
• SriLankan Airlines (via Southeast Asia hubs)

Philippines – Connected Airlines

• Philippine Airlines
• Cebu Pacific
• AirAsia Philippines
• Qantas Airways
• Jetstar Airways
• Vietnam Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• China Southern Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• Air India (via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur)

Indonesia – Connected Airlines

• Garuda Indonesia
• Lion Air
• Batik Air
• Citilink
• Qantas Airways
• Jetstar Airways
• AirAsia Indonesia
• Philippine Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• Air India (via Bali/Jakarta)

Vietnam – Connected Airlines

• Vietnam Airlines
• VietJet Air
• Bamboo Airways
• Qantas Airways (codeshare)
• Jetstar Airways
• Philippine Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• SriLankan Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Air India
• Cambodia Angkor Air

Sri Lanka – Connected Airlines

• SriLankan Airlines
• Qantas Airways (via Singapore)
• Jetstar Asia
• China Eastern Airlines
• Air China
• Vietnam Airlines (via Bangkok/KL)
• Garuda Indonesia
• Air India
• IndiGo

China – Connected Airlines

• Air China
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• XiamenAir
• Hainan Airlines
• Qantas Airways
• Jetstar Airways
• Philippine Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Vietnam Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• Air India

India – Connected Airlines

• Air India
• IndiGo
• Vistara
• Qantas Airways (via Singapore)
• Jetstar Airways
• Vietnam Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• SriLankan Airlines
• Philippine Airlines
• China Southern Airlines

Cambodia – Connected Airlines

• Cambodia Angkor Air
• Vietnam Airlines (partner carrier)
• Philippine Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia (via regional routes)
• China Eastern Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines (via Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur)
• Jetstar Asia (for regional Australia/NZ routes)
• Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines also act as connectors

As millions of tourists are travelling and the Easter holiday weekend starts, the Asia-Pacific region enters one of its most challenging test periods in recent memory. How these nations brace for busy travel chaos may well define the future of regional tourism infrastructure.

As the Easter weekend kicks off across the Asia-Pacific, airports from Sydney to Shanghai and Mumbai to Manila are experiencing unprecedented surges in passenger volume. With travel demand rebounding to pre-pandemic levels and many families taking advantage of the extended break, airport infrastructure across Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, India, and Cambodia is being pushed to the limit.

Australia and New Zealand: Southern Hemisphere Strains

In Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane airports reported passenger numbers surpassing 2019 levels by early Thursday morning. Airports are facing a flood of outbound international travelers as well as a crush of domestic holidaymakers traveling to the Gold Coast, Tasmania, and Perth. Melbourne Airport recorded over 110,000 passengers in a single day—its busiest since before COVID.

In neighboring New Zealand, Auckland International is experiencing similar bottlenecks, with reports of delayed baggage handling and long check-in queues. Christchurch and Wellington airports are also stretched as families head to beach destinations or travel to attend religious gatherings.

India and Sri Lanka: Domestic Crush and International Outflow

India is witnessing a travel phenomenon. With the middle class expanding and school holidays aligning with Easter in several states, domestic airline bookings are up nearly 25% year-over-year. Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru airports are overwhelmed, with IndiGo and Air India operating on emergency staffing models. Travelers are heading to Goa, Kerala, and the Andaman Islands, causing regional airport congestion.

Sri Lanka, still rebuilding its tourism profile post-crisis, is seeing a sharp spike in international arrivals from Europe and Australia. Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is straining to manage charter flights and budget carrier operations. Officials have issued travel advisories urging passengers to arrive four hours before departure.

Southeast Asia: Regional Chaos from Manila to Hanoi

In the Philippines, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila is nearing capacity as holidaymakers fly to Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are reporting 90-95% seat occupancy rates. Delays are compounded by staffing issues and weather-related disruptions in Visayas and Mindanao.

Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and Bali’s Ngurah Rai International are similarly under pressure. Bali, a top Easter escape for Australians, is overbooked. Immigration counters are jammed, and arriving tourists report wait times exceeding two hours.

Vietnam is also reporting congestion at Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and Noi Bai (Hanoi) airports. Domestic travel to Da Nang, Hue, and Nha Trang has surged, with Vietnam Airlines operating additional flights to absorb overflow.

Cambodia’s Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports are seeing their highest traffic in five years, thanks in part to visa-free campaigns and Easter package deals targeting European tourists. Tourism officials expect over 200,000 international arrivals this weekend alone.

China: Internal Mobility and Return of Outbound Tourists

China’s major air hubs—Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, and Guangzhou Baiyun—are packed with both domestic and international travelers. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has predicted a 12% increase in holiday travel compared to 2024, driven by relaxed visa policies and a renewed outbound travel appetite.

Popular domestic destinations include Hainan, Chengdu, and Hangzhou, while international traffic is surging toward Thailand, Australia, and Japan. The reopening of direct routes to the U.S., Europe, and Oceania has added further complexity to airport schedules.

Infrastructure Bottlenecks and Traveler Frustration

What unites these countries beyond soaring demand is their struggle with outdated or overwhelmed airport infrastructure. Runway capacity, baggage handling systems, air traffic control, and even ride-share access points are being stretched. Airport authorities across the region are deploying additional staff, streamlining e-gates, and expanding terminal hours.

Yet despite these efforts, chaos has already emerged. Social media is flooded with complaints about long queues, delayed flights, and lost baggage. Airline call centers are overwhelmed. Consumer protection agencies in Australia and India have issued warnings about potential compensation delays and traveler rights.

Industry Response and Future Outlook

Airlines and tourism boards are bracing for even more intense travel volumes through the weekend. Many have increased digital updates, mobile check-in capacities, and fast-track security lanes for premium customers. But with infrastructure unable to scale overnight, the Easter 2025 travel surge is revealing just how brittle parts of the Asia-Pacific aviation ecosystem remain.

Looking forward, regional governments and private stakeholders are being urged to fast-track terminal expansions, modernize air traffic systems, and establish new international partnerships to diversify flight paths. Airport PPP (Public-Private Partnership) investment discussions are underway in Vietnam, the Philippines, and India.