Airports are set to run smoother from today, as Border Force lowers the age for smart gate use. Kids as young as 7 can now use the tech if they meet the height requirement, just in time to ease school holiday congestion.
For more, Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner Rose Cracknell joins.
Thoughts across the country are set to run a whole lot smoother this morning, as Border Force announcers plans to lower the age for who can use smart gates. From today onwards, children who are seven years of age and meet the height requirement will be allowed to use the technology.
The change comes ahead of.
School holidays, with hopes will ease congestion and enhance the passenger experience.
For more.
We're joined by Rose Kracknell, Border Force Acting Assistant Commissioner Live it's Sydney Airport. Great to have you with us because this is really good news for travelers.
What sort of a difference will it make?
Good morning, Chevoon, thanks for having us. The Australian Border Force has been working really hard on enhancing its capabilities to improve the passenger experience. Today we're really excited to announce that we have expanded our eligibility criteria to use the smart gates to children seven years of age. I'm meeting a height restriction of one point one meters or one hundred and ten centimeters. Additionally, we've expanded the nationalities eligible to use the passport gates to one hundred and ninety nine and this represents an additional two million passengers that are eligible to use our smart gates, primarily comprising of children and their families.
This is the best improvement I reckon to airline travels since the neck pillow. Just take us through which airports are going to have the upgrades.
Certainly, we've expanded this capability across all of our major airports right around Australia. Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cans and Darwin all have this new capability. And while you're at those airports, keep an eye out for our QR code which takes you to the ABF website where you can see how to use the new SmartGates video for further information. Addition, we have our semi the smart Gate height guides where children can measure the eligibility to use the new smart gate technology. And finally, we have Australian Borderforce officers positions right around the country. They're there to help you with your journey and make sure you have a seamless process.
Rose, It's not just Australia, is it.
Because I did some international travel recently and a lot of countries are using the smart gates and the accessibility through customs is so much easier.
That's right.
We're working really hard with our partners right around the world to ensure that Australia has the most up to date technology to provide accessibility for all of our passengers and improve your passenger experience through the gates.
Well, if you've got a holiday coming up, I hope you have a good one.
Rose really appreciate that. Take care,