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100% of international flyers pass through Sydney Airport in record time

Good news for anyone who’s ever in a hurry at Sydney Airport. Australia’s busiest hub has posted its strongest operational performance ever, with virtually every passenger breezing through security in record time in Q4 2024.

Good news for anyone who’s ever in a hurry at Sydney Airport. Australia’s busiest hub has posted its strongest operational performance ever, with virtually every passenger breezing through security in record time in Q4 2024.

During the quarter, 100 per cent of international travellers and 99.9 per cent of domestic passengers cleared security in under 10 minutes, adding to Sydney Airport’s reputation for efficiency.

Operationally, kerbside drop-off times improved, with no delays exceeding 10 minutes in domestic precincts and fewer delays in international areas. So now you don’t have an excuse to miss your next flight. 

Immigration wait times also shortened, with 90 per cent of passengers processed in under 37 minutes, reflecting Sydney Airport’s partnership with the Australian Border Force and its upgrade of kiosks and e-gates. The enhancements are expected to be completed this year with the installation of 40 new kiosks.

Passengers using ePassport facilities at Sydney International Airport.
Passengers using ePassport facilities at Sydney International Airport. (Image Wisely/Shutterstock)

When it comes to traffic numbers, the quarter saw 11 million passengers pass through the airport’s terminals, a 5 per cent increase on Q4 2023, and reaching 94.4 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic in 2019. 

International passenger traffic was a standout, climbing 7.4 per cent compared to Q4 2023, with over 4.35 million passengers – just shy (99.1 per cent) of 2019’s record figures. 

Australians led the charge, with 8.4 per cent more heading overseas compared to Q4 2019, while South Korean, Indian and Philippine passport holders also drove growth.

Domestic and regional terminals saw 6.65 million passengers in Q4, up 3.5 per cent on the previous year. 

Year in review

Across 2024, Sydney Airport welcomed over 41 million passengers, including 16.3 million international travellers – a 12.1 per cent year-on-year increase – and more than 25 million domestic passengers, up 4.1 per cent.

Qantas Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport saw more than 40 million passengers in 2024.

“41 million passengers is a strong result that reflects the ongoing demand for travel, boosting the almost $40 billion contribution we make to the national economy on a yearly basis,” Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said.

“The momentum for international travel was especially strong in the last few months of the year and the addition of new partners like Turkish Airlines and Juneyao Air, and positive discussions we’ve been having with prospective partners, sets us up well for 2025.

“What is really pleasing is our operations in the context of the demand we are seeing. We’re focused on maximising the performance of our existing facilities, before building expensive infrastructure. Our goal is to ensure that the infrastructure we have operates at its best, delivering maximum benefit to both our airline partners and passengers.

“When we do invest, we’ll do so with a clear focus on enhancing the passenger experience and improving on-time performance. Our strong pipeline of projects is designed to support our growth ambitions, as we build in line with demand.”

Sydney Domestic Airport T2
Sydney Domestic Airport T2.

In November, Sydney Airport unveiled a $200 million redevelopment to modernise Australia’s busiest domestic terminal, T2. When the project is completed, SYD said travellers passing through T2 can look forward to a faster and more seamless experience.

Late last year, the Albanese Government passed the first major slot management reforms at Sydney Airport in 27 years, with Australian travellers set to benefit from the significant changes.