Madrid airport now operates its fingers remotely
23 April, 2025Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has become the first major airport in the world to operate all its boarding gates by remote control, an advance made possible thanks to the collaboration between Aena and TK Airport Solutions. The new technology, which has replaced face-to-face control with a centralised, digital system, was implemented progressively between June 2024 and February 2025, with the direct involvement of airlines and handling agents during the process.
With a total of 129 gateways, the system operates from three control centres located in terminals T123, T4 and T4S. Each one manages its own area, although all fingers can be managed from any of the 17 distributed stations, providing a greater capacity to react to incidents. The system has been validated by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) and has operational contingency protocols.
The initiative positions Aena as a pioneer in the remote management of gateways at large-scale airports. According to its executive vice-president, Javier Marín, this transformation is part of a historic investment programme which prioritises sustainability and innovation, essential pillars to face the evolution of air traffic and the new demands of the sector.