Travellers moving through Queenstown Airport are being urged to leave plenty of time, as the transport hub prepares for its single biggest day of Christmas arrivals.

Today (Saturday December 20) marks the start of the heavy festive traffic, with more than 5,500 people expected to land in the southern hotspot in a single day.

Approximately 150,000 passengers are scheduled to pass through the terminal between now and January 4, and nearly 93,000 of those will be travelling on domestic routes.

Airport management confirmed these figures are on par with last summer’s busy season.

Following today's influx of arrivals, the intensity is expected to remain high, with the weekends of December 27–28 and January 2–4 forecast to see more than 10,000 daily passengers.

Head of operations, compliance and safety Juliet Breen said the team is prepared, but the infrastructure will be tested.

"We've also boosted staffing levels and added extra customer service support for the summer," Juliet said. 

"However, our systems will be operating near capacity, so please be patient and follow the guidance of our staff."

To assist with the terminal atmosphere during the bottlenecks, the airport has scheduled live music and set up a pop-up Central Otago cherry caravan.

"Summer is always a special time in Queenstown. We love the excitement in the terminal as people fly in to spend Christmas with whānau or head off on adventures," Juliet said.

Essential travel tips

• Parking is tight: Terminal car parks are hitting capacity. Drivers should use the Park & Ride service at Brookes Road or arrange a drop-off.
• The 20-minute rule: Do not leave cars unattended in the drop-off zone or you risk a fine. Use the P20 zone (right-hand lane at the roundabout) for 20 minutes of free parking for farewells.
• Watch your batteries: Power banks and batteries must go in carry-on luggage, not checked bags.
• Trans-Tasman travellers: If you are one of the 57,000 flying internationally, complete the NZ Traveller Declaration online before arriving to avoid delays.
• Drones: Recreational flyers should review Civil Aviation Authority rules before launching drones this summer to ensure airspace safety.