Aeroporti di Roma: the future of border control is already here

Strategic airports, complex challenges

The “Leonardo da Vinci” international airport in Fiumicino and the “G.B. Pastine” airport in Ciampino are two key gateways for passenger traffic to and from the capital. Fiumicino is Italy’s main airport hub and one of the leading European airports for international traffic, while Ciampino plays a crucial role in civil, governmental, and military connections. In both cases, the efficiency of border controls is essential to ensure safety, speed, and a positive travel experience.

Within the European context, these airports are also entry points into the Schengen area: adopting technological tools compliant with Frontex standards is therefore strategic, not only for managing passenger flows but also for international cooperation on security and digital identity.

Faster controls without compromising security

To improve operational efficiency and streamline passenger flows, the Ministry of the Interior introduced a new regulation allowing Italian citizens to use the Electronic Identity Card (CIE) at automated border controls, provided that the document is valid for travel and was issued after 7 February 2018.
Implementing this change required a major upgrade of technological infrastructure and control systems, ensuring full integration with Ministry databases, advanced biometric security, and compliance with the European standards defined by Frontex.

Minsait, part of the Indra Group, was the first technology partner in Italy to adopt and implement the new ministerial provisions, designing and installing:

• 15 intelligent eGates in the transit gallery of Fiumicino’s “Leonardo da Vinci” airport
• 11 eGates in Ciampino’s “G.B. Pastine” airport

At the heart of the solution is advanced software developed internally by Minsait, capable of managing:

• Syntactic checks: Verification of document authenticity and real-time cross-checking with Ministry of the Interior databases.
• Semantic checks: Biometric identification through facial recognition and fingerprints for Italian citizens.

This implementation represents a national first, both technologically and from a regulatory standpoint: it is the first time that the CIE has been used at scale to access automated controls in an airport environment.

The project generated significant, measurable benefits from the very first days of operation:

• At Ciampino, in the first week alone, 15% of eGate entries were completed using the CIE
• Significant reduction in waiting times for Italian travellers
• Optimisation of Border Police operations through better flow and exception management
• Greater comfort for passengers, who can now complete controls in just a few seconds
• Increased overall security, thanks to the combination of biometric technologies and checks against official databases

A tangible demonstration of innovation with real impact

This success story confirms Minsait as a reference partner for the digital transformation of critical infrastructure. In particular, we have demonstrated:

• Rapid responsiveness to new regulatory scenarios
• Technological leadership in digital-identity management and biometric systems
• Excellence in integrating complex systems in highly regulated, high-traffic environments
• A citizen-centred vision, focused on improving the experience without compromising security

The eGates deployed at Fiumicino and Ciampino mark a turning point for the Italian airport ecosystem and represent a model that can be replicated in other countries. A tangible example of how technology, regulation, and public service can converge to deliver solutions that improve people’s lives.