Western Sydney Airport to use facial recognition technology

Western Sydney Airport CEO Graham Millett has described a futuristic travel experience for the yet-to-be-built global portal, in which passengers could be detected by facial recognition technology as soon as they board public transport.

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Western Sydney Airport CEO Graham Millett has described a futuristic travel experience for the yet-to-be-built global portal, in which passengers could be detected by facial recognition technology as soon as they board public transport.

Speaking at a South West Sydney Tourism Taskforce lunch at Warwick Hill on Friday, Mr Millett said biometric technology would be used across the airport, and possibly on trains and buses, to bolster security and assist airlines’ productivity.

Western Sydney Airport CEO Graham Millett. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

He said the technology could inform an airline if a passenger was running late for a scheduled flight, based on where they were detected, which would inform the airline to sell their designated seats or adjust the plane’s fuel levels.

Mr Millett said passengers could be detected as soon as they board a train. Picture: Robert Pozo

When asked about the privacy implications of the technology during a Q&A, Mr Millett said he expected biometric or facial recognition software to be more common in the future.

“I think privacy is a thing of the past, as we used to understand it,” he said.

“If you are happy to ‘biometricised’, I think you will find your travel through the airport much easier and quicker,” he said.

An artist’s impression of the future Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis.

Mr Millett said the airport, to be the first in Australia with 5G capability, would deliver substantial economic and social benefits for western Sydney.

South West Sydney Tourism Taskforce president Harry Hunt.

South West Sydney Tourism Taskforce president Harry Hunt encouraged industry to collaborate and take advantage of the future opportunities.

“We are already a very popular tourist destination,” Mr Hunt said. “We must be tourism ready.”

The not-for-profit organisation launched its new website and tourism maps for the Campbelltown, Liverpool, Fairfield, Camden and Wollondilly areas.