Security

Your safety and security is a high priority at Canberra Airport.

Accordingly, a number of security measures have been implemented in accordance with directives from the Commonwealth Government's Office of Transport Security and the requirements of other government security agencies and our partner airlines.

These are some of the security initiatives that you may encounter:

Checking in

When checking in, airline staff will query whether you have any hazardous items in luggage that you intend depositing into the hold of the aircraft. Flammable goods, gas cylinders, acids and poisons are all considered hazardous and may not be checked in with your luggage for carriage on the aircraft. This may include items such as batteries, SCUBA tanks, bleaches, paints and some aerosol containers. More information on restrictions applicable to hazardous materials is available at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) website.

Once checked in, your luggage will also be subjected to security screening to identify other prohibited items.

Proceeding to gate

Before accessing the sterile area or departure gate lounge, you will be subject to a security screening process to check for items that are not permitted to be carried on the aircraft, either on your person or carry-on cabin baggage. All cutting implements (such as knives, pocket knives, scissors, etc.) and sharp objects (metal cutlery, nail files, tweezers, etc.) are prohibited items in the aircraft cabin. These items may be carried in your checked-in luggage stored in the aircraft hold. Beverage containers of any description (empty or otherwise) are not to be carried through the walkthrough metal detector for the purpose of screening and clearing. Only sealed containers (flask, thermos etc) may be submitted for x-ray observation. A beverage such as a coffee cup with lid does not constitute a sealed container as the liquid may cause damage to the x-ray apparatus.

General

You will notice signs and public address announcements requesting you not to leave your luggage unattended at any time. Unattended luggage presents a security risk and may be disposed of by security personnel.

A number of security personnel, from various agencies, are deployed around the Airport to monitor operations. Some may be identifiable by uniform, some may not. You may also see detection dogs in operation around the Airport.

Canberra Airport has an extensive closed circuit television (CCTV) system in operation, and your movements may be recorded for security purposes.

Vehicles

Private vehicles are not permitted to pick-up passengers at the road kerb immediately outside the terminal. Vehicles may not park or 'stand' for extended periods while awaiting arriving passengers, or while carrying out any other function. Like unattended luggage, idle vehicles within close proximity to the terminal represent a potential security threat.

In contrast, vehicles dropping off passengers at the terminal are not usually idle and may be permitted to drop off passengers provided the vehicle does not 'stand'. However, any vehicle deemed to be idle may be moved on by security personnel.

Vehicles may also be moved on to facilitate closure of parts of the kerbside area at the terminal when the arrival of VIPs or other dignitaries is imminent.

To minimise any inconvenience to passengers resulting from these restrictions, vehicles merely picking up passengers (and/or requiring a short period of time within close proximity to the terminal) may park in the short-stay car park for FREE for the first 5 minutes.