A vapor-liquid contact tray apparatus for use in a separation column, said apparatus comprising a tray having a plurality of apertures for passage of fluid through the tray, wherein: the apertures are arranged in a first group of three adjacent rows extending substantially parallel to a main liquid flow path of the tray, apertures of the middle row are offset along the main liquid flow path on the tray from adjacent apertures of the other two rows to form a triangular pattern of adjacent apertures across the three adjacent rows, the apertures have a length and a width, each length is oriented substantially parallel to its row and each width is oriented substantially perpendicular to its row, centers of adjacent apertures within each row are separated by a first spacing which is equal to or between 2.5 and 4.5 times the average length of the apertures in that row, and centers of adjacent rows are separated by a second spacing which is equal to or between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average width of the apertures of the adjacent rows, wherein the apparatus further comprising a tray support, wherein: the tray is supported by the tray support; wherein the tray support comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: a ring, a partial ring, a bracket, or a flange underlying and supporting a circumferential region of the tray; a cross beam underlying and supporting a chordal region of the tray; and a tray panel forming a cross beam supporting a portion of an adjacent tray panel or panels of the tray; apertures are formed through the tray support, support-area-aeration apertures are formed through the tray directly above the tray support; and the support-area-aeration apertures of the tray are in fluid communication with the apertures of the tray support. the apertures are arranged in a first group of three adjacent rows extending substantially parallel to a main liquid flow path of the tray, apertures of the middle row are offset along the main liquid flow path on the tray from adjacent apertures of the other two rows to form a triangular pattern of adjacent apertures across the three adjacent rows, the apertures have a length and a width, each length is oriented substantially parallel to its row and each width is oriented substantially perpendicular to its row, centers of adjacent apertures within each row are separated by a first spacing which is equal to or between 2.5 and 4.5 times the average length of the apertures in that row, and centers of adjacent rows are separated by a second spacing which is equal to or between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average width of the apertures of the adjacent rows, the tray is supported by the tray support; wherein the tray support comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: a ring, a partial ring, a bracket, or a flange underlying and supporting a circumferential region of the tray; a cross beam underlying and supporting a chordal region of the tray; and a tray panel forming a cross beam supporting a portion of an adjacent tray panel or panels of the tray; apertures are formed through the tray support, support-area-aeration apertures are formed through the tray directly above the tray support; and the support-area-aeration apertures of the tray are in fluid communication with the apertures of the tray support.