Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) will become the first Australian airport to introduce the new web-based Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) on 26 October, marking a major step towards ditching the dreaded orange incoming passenger cards.
The new platform will allow international travellers flying with any airline to complete their arrival declaration digitally, with the system expected to roll out across Australia’s international airports over the next 12 to 18 months.
The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has welcomed the move, saying it will help streamline the border process for millions of travellers.
“Many people have experienced the hassle of the paper incoming passenger card, and the digital alternative is much smoother,” AAA Acting CEO Natalie Heazlewood said.
“It’s exciting to see this innovative solution being implemented for the first international flights at Western Sydney International Airport. Travellers on any airline will be able to use the new web-based platform, before its eventual rollout to all international airports in the next 12 to 18 months.”
The announcement comes as Australian airports prepare for a surge in international travel, with passenger movements forecast to jump from nearly 46 million last financial year to more than 86 million by 2040.
Heazlewood said modernising border processes would be essential to keeping pace with demand, alongside more than $40 billion in planned airport investment over the next decade.
“Airports have long advocated for improvements to Australia’s border processes, and this is another important step towards delivering a more seamless experience for international travellers,” she said.
The AAA also welcomed the Federal Government’s initiative as Australia prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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