FRANKFURT, GERMANY – Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, has started testing Auracast™ broadcast audio at two gates, becoming the first airport in the world to send gate announcements directly to passengers’ own hearing aids, earbuds, and smartphones. This marks an important step toward making air travel more accessible and inclusive, particularly for the nearly one in five people globally—more than 1.5 billion individuals—who live with hearing loss.
Auracast™ broadcast audio is a Bluetooth® capability that turns public sound into a direct audio stream that people can tune into using their own devices. Instead of struggling to hear announcements over background noise, travelers can connect and listen as if they were taking a phone call or listening to music on their personal device.
The new solution has been installed at gates A16 and A17 in Terminal 1. Over the next two months, project partners will gather feedback from travelers and staff to evaluate how the technology affects accessibility, comfort, and the overall passenger experience.
The trial is part of a Distr@l-funded digital accessibility initiative. Distr@l is a public funding program from the German state of Hesse that supports innovative digital projects and collaboration between research and industry. The project is led by Sittig Technologies in collaboration with Fraport and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.
“As the airport operator, we want our passengers to have a comfortable and relaxing stay at our terminals. By bringing clear, personalized announcements directly into passengers’ own hearing devices, we are offering another attractive service to our customers while taking an important step toward a more inclusive airport.”
–Alexander Laukenmann, Senior Executive Vice President Aviation, Fraport AG
“Auracast fundamentally changes how announcements work in airports,” said Johannes Sittig, CEO US, Sittig Technologies. “We are proud to collaborate with Frankfurt Airport as a first mover, guided by a vision for a more inclusive, passenger-centric travel experience. By integrating Auracast into our PAXGuide announcement platform, we are delivering announcements directly to passengers’ own devices without requiring airports to replace their existing infrastructure.”
Inclusiveness for Hearing Aid Users and Support for Silent Airport Concepts
With Auracast™ broadcast audio, passengers with Auracast-compatible hearing aids, earbuds, headphones, and assistive listening devices can receive gate announcements via supported smartphones. This offers a new level of clarity and confidence for travelers with hearing loss, who often find traditional loudspeaker announcements difficult to understand in busy terminals.
Auracast also supports “silent airport” concepts, where frequent loudspeaker announcements are replaced by direct personal updates. Passengers can receive gate information—such as boarding calls, changes, or delays—directly to their own Auracast-enabled earbuds or headphones via supported smartphones, including models from partners such as Pixel and Samsung, or via an app from an Auracast-enabled GN hearing device. This approach reduces terminal noise while keeping travelers informed.
“Frankfurt Airport is setting a new standard for inclusive travel,” said Peter Justesen, President, GN Hearing.
“As the first company to introduce Auracast into hearing aids, we are now bringing this innovation to travelers, giving passengers with hearing loss clearer access to gate information and a more confident travel experience.”
“We are proud to support Frankfurt Airport’s vision for a quieter, more accessible travel experience,” said JM Choi, Corporate Vice President and Head of Connectivity R&D, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Auracast and Bluetooth® LE Audio can deliver real-world benefits in high-density environments while improving battery efficiency and user experience.”
Seamless Integration with Existing Gate Systems
Auracast transmitters are integrated directly into Sittig’s PAXModular IP paging stations already installed at the gates, allowing Frankfurt Airport to introduce Auracast without major rebuilding or additional hardware.
Automated announcements from Sittig’s PAXGuide system are broadcast through these transmitters, delivering gate information directly to passengers’ smartphones, headphones, and hearing aids. The system provides stable Auracast coverage today and enables simple future expansion.
The installation is supported by several technology partners, including GN, Google, Samsung, and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), highlighting strong industry support for Auracast and its potential to improve accessibility in public spaces.
About Sittig Technologies
Sittig Technologies is a global provider of voice communication and automated announcement solutions for airports and transportation hubs. Founded in 1987, the company delivers communication systems for complex public environments. Its PAXGuide system provides multilingual, automated passenger announcements and integrates operational information to improve accessibility and efficiency.
About Fraport AG and Frankfurt Airport
Fraport AG is one of the world’s leading airport companies, with operations at 29 airports across four continents. In fiscal year 2024, the Fraport Group generated €4.4 billion in revenue and approximately €501.9 million in profit. In 2025, Frankfurt Airport welcomed around 63.2 million passengers and handled about 2.1 million metric tons of cargo.
About GN
GN develops intelligent hearing, audio, video, and gaming solutions designed to enhance communication and sensory experiences. GN markets products under brands including Jabra, ReSound, Beltone, Interton, and BlueParrott and employs more than 7,000 people worldwide.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung develops technologies across smartphones, wearables, home appliances, network systems, and more, integrating AI and connectivity through its SmartThings ecosystem to deliver connected experiences.
About the Bluetooth Special Interest Group
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is the international standards development organization responsible for advancing, protecting, and promoting Bluetooth® technology, the global standard for connection. With over 40,000 member companies, we are a community of the world’s most inventive people collaborating to fulfill the essential need to connect. Driven by a shared vision of creating a better world through connection, our members ship over 5 billion Bluetooth enabled products each year that make our lives safer, healthier, and more joyful, while helping businesses and industries become more efficient, sustainable, and productive. Learn more about who we are at www.bluetooth.com
Source: GN
