Virgin Australia has confirmed that its signature curb-side ‘Premium Entry’ channel at Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport closed permanently on 17 November. The service—long beloved by Velocity Gold, Platinum and business-class flyers for whisking passengers from street to lounge in under two minutes—will be replaced by enlarged priority-screening zones inside the main T2 terminal.
The airline says 95 per cent of premium passengers will still clear security within 15 minutes once extra Smart Lane scanners go live during weekday peaks (05:00–10:00 and 14:00–19:00). Melbourne’s T3 will add an additional priority lane, and Perth’s dedicated channel—suspended during COVID—will reopen next month. Brisbane will regain a rebuilt premium entry in late 2026 featuring next-generation CT scanners that allow laptops and liquids to remain in bags.
![Virgin Australia shutters Sydney premium entry, expands priority lanes ahead of holiday surge]()
For corporate-travel managers the short-term pain is logistical: travellers accustomed to a separate kerb drop-off must now enter via the public doors and budget a few extra minutes, particularly during the summer peak. Virgin counters that broader access to priority lanes means benefits extend beyond top-tier frequent flyers to any traveller holding a Flex fare or Velocity Silver status during busy periods.
The change comes amid a wider customer-experience refresh that includes summer menus featuring mango salads and Bundaberg drinks, as well as new buy-on-board snacks aligned with the carrier’s mid-market positioning. Analysts say the real motivation is cost: the dedicated ground-floor facility required additional staff and separate security equipment. By folding premium screening back into the main checkpoint, Virgin frees capital for aircraft-cabin upgrades and a forthcoming 737-MAX delivery wave.
Airport authorities, meanwhile, welcome the move as part of an integrated security-flow redesign aimed at meeting 2026 ICAO biometrics standards. Travellers connecting onward on international partners—such as United and Singapore Airlines—should notice faster re-screening times once works are complete.
The airline says 95 per cent of premium passengers will still clear security within 15 minutes once extra Smart Lane scanners go live during weekday peaks (05:00–10:00 and 14:00–19:00). Melbourne’s T3 will add an additional priority lane, and Perth’s dedicated channel—suspended during COVID—will reopen next month. Brisbane will regain a rebuilt premium entry in late 2026 featuring next-generation CT scanners that allow laptops and liquids to remain in bags.
For corporate-travel managers the short-term pain is logistical: travellers accustomed to a separate kerb drop-off must now enter via the public doors and budget a few extra minutes, particularly during the summer peak. Virgin counters that broader access to priority lanes means benefits extend beyond top-tier frequent flyers to any traveller holding a Flex fare or Velocity Silver status during busy periods.
The change comes amid a wider customer-experience refresh that includes summer menus featuring mango salads and Bundaberg drinks, as well as new buy-on-board snacks aligned with the carrier’s mid-market positioning. Analysts say the real motivation is cost: the dedicated ground-floor facility required additional staff and separate security equipment. By folding premium screening back into the main checkpoint, Virgin frees capital for aircraft-cabin upgrades and a forthcoming 737-MAX delivery wave.
Airport authorities, meanwhile, welcome the move as part of an integrated security-flow redesign aimed at meeting 2026 ICAO biometrics standards. Travellers connecting onward on international partners—such as United and Singapore Airlines—should notice faster re-screening times once works are complete.
