Sydney Airport has announced plans to invest AUD 200 million into a major overhaul of its T2 Domestic terminal – Australia’s busiest domestic terminal.
This investment would be the first major upgrade to the terminal – used by 17 million passengers every year – in more than 30 years.
The funds will go towards a more streamlined check-in, faster security and other updated facilities aimed at improving the passenger experience. A new layout, more bag drop technology and the latest security technology are to speed up departures and deliver overall efficiency improvements.
The investment will focus on more self-service solutions for passengers. For instance, there will be a greater number of self-service kiosks and new bag drop technology that will make it possible for passengers to handle their own check-in process. The airport currently handles 1,500 bags per hour at peak times. This investment will see that capacity figure rise to 1,800 bags per hour by 2026.
The Australian government has issued a security mandate to install ‘standard three’ security equipment by the end of 2025. Consequently, T2 will be equipped with new security technology and scanners on seven processing lanes to meet the requirements. The new measures will allow passengers to leave items like laptops and liquids in their carry-on, which will cut security processing times significantly. Currently, each security lane can process around 235 passengers per hour. This is estimated to rise to 500 passengers per hour as a result – more than double.
As part of the streamlining process, there will be dedicated lanes for families and passengers requiring assistance. There will further be two new lifts after security, which will take passengers to the food court and gate lounges.
Sydney Airport estimates that thanks to these upgrades, 95 percent of passengers will manage to get from kerbside to airside in under 15 minutes.
Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, said:We are excited to announce our design vision for the T2 Domestic terminal. We believe these changes will make the T2 experience one of the fastest and most efficient in Australia which is a great outcome for passengers and our airline partners.
These upgrades will not only transform security performance but will also support future demand, ensuring that Australia’s busiest airport terminal can accommodate the significant growth in passenger numbers we’re forecasting.
These significant upgrades build on a series of improvements made over the past 12 months at T2, including the opening of the first Australian domestic airport department store in December 2023, new food, beverage and retail offerings – all designed to enhance the passenger experience and elevate the journey from start to finish.
While we understand that the upgrade works may cause temporary disruption, we want to thank passengers and our airline partners for their patience and understanding during this important transformation. We’re working hard to minimise any inconvenience and ensure the terminal remains operational throughout the process.
If T2 Domestic were a stand-alone airport, it would be Australia’s fourth-largest. It was built in the 1990s to accommodate eight million passengers. Today, it actually handles more than 17 million passengers annually and is served by airlines such as Virgin Airlines, Jetstar and regional airlines.
