Sydney leads $2bn national airport security roll out to cut screening time for passengers

Passengers will soon breeze through airport security in record time as a $2bn screening upgrade across all Australian terminals will end the need to remove three common items from bags.

New security screening area in Hobart Airport. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Airport security screening across Australia will be a more uniform experience by year’s end, as major gateways work towards a federal government deadline to upgrade systems at an estimated cost of $2bn.

It means travellers on domestic and international flights will be spared the hassle of taking laptops, liquids and aerosols out of bags, dramatically speeding up the process.

Pockets will still need to be emptied and coats and belts removed for the body scanner but Sydney Airport said they were already seeing screening times halved in the new lanes.

An airport spokeswoman said 11 of the 15 new lanes featuring advanced CT technology were now operational in the T1, with the remainder to come online by November 7.

Although there would be fewer lanes in total at 15 as opposed to 17, total screening capacity would increase by nearly 30 per cent due to the long 21m conveyor belt.

“The new lanes are already increasing passenger throughput by 100 per cent compared to the previous lane output,” said the spokeswoman.

The upgrade of the Qantas T3 terminal was completed earlier this year, and two of the seven new lanes in the T2 are operational with the full set to be finished within weeks.

It was expected the change would ensure the journey from check-in to gate took no more than 15 minutes, with 99.1 per cent of passengers already clearing security in under 10 minutes.

Arrivals into Sydney also faced faster processing times, thanks to the progressive rollout of 40 new smartgates.

In the last quarter, 90 per cent of travellers cleared immigration inside 35 minutes, a 16.7 per cent improvement on the same time last year, despite a 6.5 per cent increase in passenger volumes.

New upgraded security screening at Brisbane Airport should speed up passenger processing.

Sydney Airport chief executive Scott Charlton said the improvement demonstrated the value of the gateway’s partnerships with airlines, Border Force and other government agencies, as they worked together to deliver more efficient and seamless passengers journey.

“It also shows that the investments we are making in screening technology, terminal upgrades, and digital services are improving the travel experience across all terminals,” said Mr Charlton.

“What’s particularly pleasing is that these results were achieved while major infrastructure works continued across the precinct.”

Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Hobart have completed their security upgrade, while Brisbane Airport expects to meet the end of year deadline across its terminals.

After years of construction, the new Qantas security screening point will open in Brisbane on Tuesday with five hi-tech lanes.

Brisbane Airport’s new security screening point in the Qantas area.

Another ten new lanes will be ready at the central screening point of the domestic terminal by Christmas, and eight upgraded lanes will open in the international terminal by December 31.

Brisbane Airport head of terminal operations Stacey Pollard said the fact passengers would be able to leave laptops and aerosols in their bags would remove one of the biggest frustrations for frequent travellers.

“We’ve been in testing mode over the past week as our teams get up to speed with the new equipment,” said Ms Pollard.

“We’re grateful for passengers right across Brisbane Airport who have been patient over the past couple of years, and we delighted that they’re about to start experiencing the benefits of the future transformation.”

Australian Airports Association chief executive Simon Westaway said airports had invested significantly in the advanced screening technology to meet national security standards and improve the passenger experience.

He said the changes would streamline screening, reduce delays and enhance safety for all travellers while aligning Australia’s international airports with global best practice.

“It also means less hassle for passengers, like no longer having to remove your laptop when travelling through our major gateways,” said Mr Westaway.

Originally published as Sydney leads $2bn national airport security roll out to cut screening time for passengers