Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has become the first airport worldwide to use Bluetooth Auracast for gate announcements in a significant trial. Passengers at Gates A16 and A17 can now hear updates directly on their devices. This helps travellers with hearing loss, who are among the 1.5 billion people globally living with this condition.
A Leap Forward For Accessible Travel
The trial tackles a core challenge in aviation: ensuring information reaches every passenger.
“We want all our guests to have a comfortable and relaxing stay,” said Alexander Laukenmann, Fraport AG’s Senior Executive Vice President Aviation. “By bringing clear, personalised announcements directly into passengers’ own hearing devices, we are taking an important step towards a more inclusive airport.”
Users say it makes a huge difference. “The crucial thing is that it ends anxiety,” shared journalist and hearing aid user Phil Creighton after testing the system. “Being able to hear what is being said clearly and directly is a massive step forward.”
Tech Giants Come Together
The system is a team effort between Fraport, Sittig Technologies, GN Hearing, Google, Samsung, and the Bluetooth SIG. It transforms the traditional loudspeaker model into a secure, direct audio stream that passengers can connect to via an app or device settings.
The trial will run for two months, with airport staff collecting feedback from travellers. If successful, it could set a new global standard for airport communication and support the wider adoption of “silent airport” concepts.
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