From 15-min security to new terminals: all the upgrades coming to an airport near you

The days of fumbling with your laptop at security and navigating cramped, 90s-style terminals at the airport are a thing of the past.

As Australian overseas travel hits an all-time high - surging nearly 20 per cent past pre-pandemic levels this January - our airports are finally catching-up with their technology.

From Sydney's 15-minute kerb-to-gate promise, right through to new seating and amenities in regional hubs like Burnie, a multi-billion dollar construction boom is currently reshaping the way Aussies fly.

Here is how your local airport is evolving to meet the record-breaking demand of 2026.

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is undergoing a $6 billion capital works program over the next five years. to cater for an expected 72 million passengers annually by 2045. The upgrade will link the T2 and T3 domestic terminals, and also have a brand new terminal space constructed, complete with 12 new swing gates for both domestic and international operations to create a "seamless passenger experience".

Already underway is a $200 million redevelopment of Terminal 2, designed to have passengers from the kerb to the gate in 15 minutes. New security equipment means passengers can now leave their laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for screening, speeding up processing.

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport will be Sydney's only 24-hour airport when it opens in late 2026. So far, four major carriers have signed-on with the airport: Qantas, Jetstar, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, with the latter two already selling tickets for flights beginning from October and November.

Free buses will run every 30 minutes between St Marys train station and the airport, and will bridge the gap until the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport line opens in 2027 that will deliver a fast rail connection between the airport and St Marys.

Melbourne Airport has announced a huge expansion of its own worth $4.5 billion. The international terminal will be getting a new check-in hall and baggage claim area, expanded lounge area, five new gates and a new pick-up and drop-off area.

The airport has already launched a new "smart bag" system that allows airlines to track bags in real time, designed to result in fewer lost bags.

Brisbane Airport has planned more than $5 billion of investment over the coming decade. A new Skywalk has already opened, allowing passengers with carry-on luggage to walk directly from the carpark to the new screening point in the domestic terminal.

New security technology now in operation means passengers can leave their electronics and liquids in their bags, and automatic bag drop and self-check-in systems are coming soon.

Adelaide Airport is undergoing a $600 million upgrade including a terminal expansion with five new gates for domestic and regional travellers, a larger check-in hall, a new play space and sensory room for families, an additional international gate lounge, and new body scanners and 3D scanners for carry-on bags. The works are expected to be completed in 2028.

Recent upgrades allow for larger QantasLink Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to fly into the airport, and include a runway rejuvenation and airfield lighting upgrades.

Like the other major airports, Canberra recently upgraded its security system, allowing passengers to leave their laptops, tablets and liquids in their carry-on bags for screening.

No more having to drive 15 minutes between terminals at Perth Airport. A $5 billion investment is making way for a massive new terminal which will bring all flight operations into one walking-distance precinct by 2031.