Just as clearing security can be a stressful while departing, so can be clearing immigration when coming into the country. It can be a real challenge for airports to keep gate to curbside times contained and short. Technology has helped in this area, with smart kiosks helping to reduce the burden on border control staff and increase airport arrival handling capacity of passengers. Along with many airports across the globe Sydney Airport has also embraced new technologies of this type and is soon to boost its facilities further.
8 New SmartGate Kiosks This Year and 32 More Next Year
Sydney Airport, despite having a nigh time curfew, is Australia's busiest airport and sees thousands of passengers arriving from overseas every single day. Maintaining a steady processing capacity for incoming international passengers is key to running the entire operation smoothly.
To do so efficiently, and therefore reducing time for passengers from getting off the plane to getting to the curbside outside the airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith has long resorted to automation using SmartGate Kiosks. These allow eligible passengers to clear immigration formalities autonomously without having to interact with an agent.
Capacity will significantly go up with the airport introducing further 8 kiosks in the airport's international T1. In solid figures that translates to an uptick of capacity of 640 passengers per hour. However, this is only a small uptick compared to what is to come. The airport is expecting to introduce further 32 kiosk by early 2026.
What Does This Translate To For Passengers?
It's quite simple, shorter times to clear immigration and get to baggage claim and out of the airport. With more SmartGate Kiosks coming online airport efficiency will grow significantly. In 2025 Q1 alone Sydney International Airport reduced waiting times by 10% over 2024's Q4, with 90% of inbound passengers clearing immigration within 36 minutes. That, states Sydney Airport, is a 12 minute improvement over the prior 18 months, all while international passenger traffic grew by 14%.
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