Sudbury airport anticipates busy holiday season

Busy holiday travel season underway in Sudbury The Greater Sudbury Airport says it is anticipating a busy holiday season. Amanda Hicks has more.

The Greater Sudbury Airport says it is anticipating a busy holiday season.

Christopher Pollesel, the airport’s manager of passenger experience told CTV News that the holiday season is especially busy, with flights generally full.

"We always see a surge in passengers over the holiday season," said Pollesel.

"This is the start of holiday travel and leading into the winter travel season."

With Christmas just around the corner, holiday travellers arrived from near and far at the Greater Sudbury Airport on Friday.

Nigel Conlon and Taia Ylirenko arrived in Sudbury from Vancouver, B.C., eager to visit family and friends during their week-long visit to Ontario.

"Travel was pretty busy coming out of the major airports, but this flight here was pretty good, it wasn’t too busy coming out of Toronto," Conlon said.

Suzie Danastas, her mother and her aunt were set to visit some family friends for Christmas.

Originally from Australia, Danastas said she lived in Sudbury in 2014 for work and got to know Brian Laaksonen and his partner, Elaine.

"They turned into my Canadian mom and dad, so I'm back here to spend Christmas with them," she said.

Danastas has been travelling throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada with her mother and aunt for five weeks – after this, they will head back to their home country of Australia.

Pollesel said the airport typically becomes busy a few days before Christmas and advises passengers to pack their patience and plan ahead of time.

"Before coming out, check with your airline, check the checked bagged rules," he said.

When it comes to wrapping gifts ahead of time, Pollesel told CTV News that the best advice is to wait until after you've arrived at your destination.

"When it comes to presents and gifts, the best practice is to not wrap them, if at all possible, in case they have to be opened or inspected," he said.

"If you are planning on wrapping them ahead, just be mindful they may have to be opened for additional inspection."