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.<br/>