Rich travellers will be able to skip the queue at major Australian airports with plans for 'premium' border clearance lanes

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The Australian government is planning to allow wealthy airline passengers to skip airport queues by paying a fee.

The plan, announced during the Federal Budget on Tuesday, would allow passengers to purchase a 'premium' experience which allows quick passage at border clearance.

A spokesperson for the Federal Government said the measure is expected to draw greater numbers of tourists to Australia, reports The Age.  

The Australian government is planning to allow wealthy airline passengers to skip airport queues by paying a fee

'The services would be on a user-pay basis and travellers using these services will be processed under established clearance procedure. They would not be exempt from customs, immigration, biosecurity or aviation security screening,' she said.

There are already lanes for business and first-class passengers in many Australian airports, but the new premium service would take things further with a fast-tracked passage through arrivals and departures.

Tourism and Transport Forum Australia chief executive Margy Osmond said similar services are popular overseas.

'Australia must cater to the needs for all traveller demographics … for a growing number of Asian travellers, which is Australia's key growth market, premium border facilitation is an integral component of the travel experience,' she said.

Data shows airport queue delays were the most prominent complaint to customs authorities last financial year, with wait times of 90 minutes or more reported at airports across the country.

It is unclear how much of the proceeds would be raised from the service – or how much would be passed onto airlines - due to commercial confidentiality. 

Tourism and Transport Forum Australia chief executive Margy Osmond said similar services are popular overseas