Brisbane Airport CEO Urges Faster Border Technology Before 2032 Olympics
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said “Australia’s current border systems are too slow to handle future passenger growth.”
He warned Brisbane Airport must upgrade to biometric screening and contactless baggage transfers before welcoming millions for the 2032 Olympic Games. De Graaff shared his concerns during The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane series, which promotes innovation ahead of major international events.
Brisbane Needs Faster Border Systems
De Graaff said “Current processing systems cannot manage 52 million annual passengers expected by 2046.” “Based on what we have now, we can’t process people quickly enough for major events like the Olympics,” he said.
He praised Singapore’s Changi Airport, where travellers use facial and iris recognition to pass immigration checkpoints efficiently. At Changi, passengers can also present QR codes instead of passports for faster border clearance.
Technology to Improve Efficiency and Security
Brisbane Airport is working with Border Force, airlines, and other airports to introduce new travel technologies.
De Graaff said “These upgrades will speed up travel, improve customer satisfaction, and make borders safer and more secure.” “It’s a win for passengers, the government, and the airport,” he said confidently.
He also supported expanding the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) across all airlines to replace paper arrival cards. The Qantas ATD pilot program currently allows passengers to complete digital declarations before entering Australia.
A Seamless Future for Brisbane Airport
De Graaff said Brisbane Airport is testing final destination baggage labelling to simplify international-to-domestic transfers. This change would allow travellers to skip luggage collection and move directly to connecting domestic flights.
“That would save time, reduce stress, and improve reliability for travellers,” de Graaff told The Courier-Mail. He added that smarter systems will reduce the need to recruit more border staff in coming years.
An Australian Border Force spokeswoman said the organisation is focused on creating a faster, more innovative border process. “This is the first step toward safer and smarter travel ahead of the 2032 Olympics,” she confirmed.
Brisbane Airport plans to lead Australia’s aviation transformation through biometric technology and contactless processing innovations.