Italy’s fastest-growing airport introduces SITA ABC gates to expedite immigration

Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport has introduced SITA’s self-serve automated border control gates to speed up the immigration process for passengers from the European Union who hold a biometric passport.

Last year Bologna Airport was the fastest-growing airport among Italy’s 15 busiest, processing more than seven million passengers. Deploying ABC gates will make the immigration process on arrival more efficient and will allow the airport to accommodate more passengers during peak periods.

The SITA iBorders BorderAutomation ABCGates use facial recognition technology to confirm that the passenger is the passport holder and provides passengers with a smooth “walk-through” experience. The automated border control gates confirm that the passenger has an authentic, valid passport and is authorized to enter the country while fingerprint verification is also provided to further enhance security when required.

According to a company statement, SITA’s ABC gates have an average processing time of under 20 seconds and allow more than 10,000 passengers a day to clear immigration, reducing wait times and optimizing passenger flow through the airport.

Dave Bakker, SITA president, Europe, said: “Not only do passengers value the convenience of self-service technology but it helps airports improve the passenger flow through the airport. Our ABCGates are a good example of how we have worked with airports across Italy to provide ease-of-use while supporting the country’s ability to manage its borders, keeping them safe and secure.”

Article Topics

ABC gates  |  airports  |  biometrics  |  border security  |  immigration control  |  SITA