Canberra Airport workers who are close contacts of COVID-19 cases will be able to return to work if they are symptom free under an exemption granted to ease workforce shortages.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman has signed off on rules that allow check-in and baggage staff, along with security workers, to go to work while they are close contacts.
The workers, who need to consent to returning to work, must be symptom free and return a negative result on a rapid antigen test each day before attending the airport.
Workers have been advised to travel individually to the airport, wear a mask and not attend any other public places.
"The temporary exemption may only be utilised if the employer is satisfied that the essential airport worker's absence from the workplace creates a high risk to critical service delivery and where all other reasonably practicable, lower risk, options are exhausted," the exemption, which came into force on Thursday, said.
The exemption will remain in place until 11.59pm on April 25.
Canberra Airport chief executive Stephen Byron welcomed the changes ahead of a busy Easter long weekend.
On Thursday more than 9000 people were expected to move through the airport, a massive increase from numbers during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Byron said up to 10 per cent of the workforce had previously been affected by quarantine requirements at any one time.
With rostering requirements for an even number of male and female security staff, even a small number of absences made the situation difficult.
Despite long queues expected at most terminals across the country, the situation at Canberra Airport is not expected to be as dire.
Mr Byron urged people to allow extra time to board their flight and arrive more than an hour earlier, particularly during peak times.
"If people are patient, every effort has been made to help people and assist people. Come a little earlier to the airport and that way we'll make sure that everyone enjoys their holiday," he said.
The airport is now operating at 75 per cent capacity, compared to one per cent during lockdown periods. Mr Byron said this was a much needed morale boost for staff.
"To be properly fulfilling our function is great. I think for the individual staff, it's a big confidence boost," he said.
"The staff, the airline staff, the security staff and the retail staff had their jobs shut down in the airport [at the height of the pandemic] ... and to see passenger numbers turned down every time we've had a [COVID-19] wave, every time borders have closed they've had shifts cut back.
"They were worried about job security, they were worried about incomes, and certainly without JobKeeper in 2021 it was a lot tougher for individual staff members."
Australian airports on Thursday experienced their busiest day in two years as thousands of people flew out for the Easter long weekend, amid chronic staff shortages.
Passengers are being asked to arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights, with Sydney Airport saying around 82,000 passengers will need to get through under pressure security gates and check-in counters.
Transport Workers Union National Secretary Michael Caine said baggage handlers, ground staff and security workers were under incredible pressure.
Many of those workers lost their jobs at the start of COVID-19 lockdowns as they did not qualify for federal government's JobKeeper payments because they were employed by foreign companies.
"That's the underlying reason that we're seeing the staff shortages that are leading to this kind of day, with catastrophic scenes at our airport [in Sydney]," he told the ABC on Thursday.
with AAP
More to come.
