From voice to vision: Why Airports Need Visual Paging for Passenger Announcements

Airports are busy, noisy places. With the constant movement of passengers, the chatter of multiple languages, and the clatter of rolling suitcases, important audio announcements can easily be missed. Add silent airport initiatives, language barriers, and the needs of hearing-impaired travellers to this, and it becomes clear that audio alone is no longer enough to keep every passenger informed.

The Solution: Visual Paging

Visual paging ensures that the content of announcements is displayed directly on the airport’s Flight Information Display System (FIDS) screens.

With PAXGuide from Sittig Technologies, this happens seamlessly. Every announcement generated from live operational data can be sent instantly to the FIDS screens in the exact location it’s needed. Passengers don’t just hear announcements — they can see them, too.

Why Audio Alone Falls Short

Traditional PA announcements have served airports well for decades, but they have limitations:

• Background noise can make spoken messages hard to hear.

• Silent airport policies reduce announcements to cut noise pollution.

• Language barriers make messages difficult for non-native speakers.

• Hearing-impaired passengers may miss announcements altogether.

Pairing automatic audio announcements with visual paging ensures that essential messages are delivered clearly, consistently, and inclusively.

PAXGuide: Intelligent Announcements in 149+ Languages

PAXGuide is an advanced automatic announcement system designed specifically for airports:

• Delivers high-quality announcements in over 149 languages and dialects using AI-powered text-to-speech technology.

• Seamless integration with AODB, FIDS, PFMS (e.g., Xovis), workforce management, and Lost and Found Software.

• Uses real-time operational data to generate targeted, location-specific messages that are accurate and timely.

  
  

When paired with the FIDS Visual Paging interface, PAXGuide can send announcements, TTS-generated free-text messages, or summaries directly to airport display screens — without replacing the existing FIDS system.

Flexible Configuration for Every Airport

The PAXGuide FIDS interface offers a wide range of configuration options:

• Languages: display one or multiple languages alongside the spoken version.

• Announcement selection: choose which types appear visually (e.g., gate changes, boarding calls, baggage updates).

• Message length: display the full announcement or a concise summary for quick scanning.

• Location targeting: show messages only on relevant screens at gates, in terminals, or in baggage areas.

  
  

This flexibility ensures that visual paging aligns perfectly with each airport’s communication strategy - whether the aim is accessibility compliance or reinforcing a Silent Airport policy.

A Real-World Example

Scenario: A gate change for Flight LH123 to Munich.

• Audio announcement: “Attention passengers for Flight LH123 to Munich, your gate has changed to A17.”

• Visual paging: On the nearby FIDS screens, the message appears instantly: Flight LH123 → Munich Gate change to A17. Please proceed immediately.

  
  

Even passengers who may not hear the announcement due to noise, distractions, or hearing impairments still receive the message in time.

The Benefits of Visual Paging with PAXGuide

1. Accessibility for all: supports hearing-impaired travellers and meets accessibility requirements such as Title VI.

2. Better passenger flow: clear visual messages reduce confusion and keep people moving.

3. Supports Silent Airport strategies: maintains effective communication while reducing noise.

4. Fewer missed flights: reinforces critical updates passengers may not hear.

5. Consistent messaging: audio and visual channels work in sync to build trust.

6. No need to replace FIDS: integrates with existing display systems, saving time, cost, and disruption.

Clear, Consistent and Inclusive Communication

PAXGuide combines automated multilingual announcements with visual paging to deliver a truly inclusive airport communication system. Every message is played in the right language, in the right place, and at the right time - and now, it can also be seen clearly on the screens passengers already use for flight updates.

Want to make your airport communication barrier-free?

Contact Sittig Technologies today to find out how PAXGuide Visual Paging can be integrated with your existing PA and FIDS systems.

About Sittig Technologies

Sittig Technologies is a leading provider of automatic announcement systems for airports and airlines, revolutionising communication and efficiency in the aviation industry.

The software-based PAXGuide system automates all general and boarding announcements in over 149 languages, leveraging the world’s most advanced AI-driven text-to-speech engines.

By integrating seamlessly with existing airport systems, PAXGuide enhances both passenger experience and operational efficiency. Using data from camera and sensor systems such as Xovis, the solution ensures timely and accurate communication across the terminal.