Abruzzo Airport: Digitalising Pre-Security Access Control with Magnetic® Gates

When Abruzzo International Airport reached one million passengers a year, it became clear that pre-security checks could no longer rely entirely on manual procedures. Security staff had to check boarding passes individually, requiring significant resources without always ensuring accurate QR code validation or verifying that the passenger, boarding pass and scheduled flight matched.

“As passenger numbers increased, the risks of errors, fraud and unauthorized access would inevitably have grown,” explains Luisa Del Proposto, Head of Infrastructure Design and Maintenance at Abruzzo International Airport. This led to the decision to introduce an automated system designed to make access to the boarding area safer, more orderly and fully traceable.

The airport opted for Magnetic^® mPass Momentum^® pre-security pedestrian gates, designed for precise passenger flow management and advanced passage detection.

The airport was already familiar with Magnetic^® solutions, which made the decision easier. The proposed system offered a robust, reliable and cost-effective solution that met the airport’s specific requirements for security and scalability.

How the System Works

The introduction of Magnetic^® gates has enabled the airport to implement access rules tailored to its operational needs:

• Access is permitted only within a defined time window, starting two hours before gate closure.
• Attempts to enter outside the permitted time window are automatically blocked.
• Duplicate entries are prevented, with checks to ensure that the passenger, boarding pass and scheduled flight match.
• Errors are handled immediately through clear, traceable system messages.

The airport adopted a phased approach: starting with basic boarding pass validation, then progressively refining the system until comprehensive, accurate checks were in place. This pragmatic strategy helped passengers, many of whom were unfamiliar with automated gates, gradually adapt to the new access procedure.

The Benefits: Enhanced Security and Smoother Passenger Flows

The introduction of the gates delivered immediate improvements in both security and operational efficiency.

“We can now be confident that only authorised passengers are granted access,” explains Del Proposto. “Attempts to enter using incorrect boarding passes, return-flight boarding passes or passes belonging to other passengers have been eliminated. And thanks to automatic access restrictions once the permitted time window has expired, we've also reduced disputes with passengers arriving too late for boarding.”

Today, pre-security operations are more orderly, predictable and aligned with the standards expected of a growing airport. Access-related incidents have been eliminated, allowing staff to focus on higher-value activities.

A Configuration Designed to Meet Every Need

Abruzzo International Airport uses:

• A 60 cm-wide gate for most passengers.
• A 90 cm-wide gate designed to accommodate passengers with reduced mobility and those travelling with pushchairs.
• A handheld device for managing controlled re-entry, special requirements and exceptional situations without overriding the system's automated access rules.

The mPass Momentum^® model proved to be the ideal choice thanks to its precise passage detection, advanced anti-intrusion sensors and compact design, which integrates seamlessly into airport environments.

The new system is more than just a technical upgrade: it has become an integral part of the airport's growth strategy.

“For us, this level of automation has become essential,” concludes Del Proposto. “Looking ahead to the airport's future, we simply couldn't do without it.”