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Passengers flying out of Australia can now check in for their flights using a mobile phone, in a new measure to cut down wait times at Australian airports.

From Monday this week, airlines can now issue electronic boarding passes for international flights departing Australia.

It means travellers won’t need to visit check-in counters to show their passport and collect a boarding pass.

“Australia is a world leader in seamless travel and this move will allow travellers to move across our border smoothly,” Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge said in a statement.

In the last financial year, more than 21 million people passed through the border at international airports on their way out of Australia.

Nearly three quarters of travellers were screened through the automatic SmartGates, another measure implemented to help speed up the process.

“These increasing volumes mean we are always looking for ways to clear legitimate travellers efficiently and seek out those of interest to law enforcement,” Mr Tudge said.

The new rule follows successful trials of mobile boarding passes for international flights.

Article created in partnership with Over60