MIA to go silent from with New Year 2018

MIA to go silent from with New Year 2018

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 16, 2017: On January 2, 2018 - Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) at Kenjar is all set to go silent. With the Airports Authority of India (AAI) that manages the airport declaring MIA as a silent airport, all public announcements by airlines will stop from the day after New Year. Instead, it will be combination of information through flight information display boards, SMSes and hands on assistance from airlines concerned.

Vasamsetti Venkateswara Rao, airport director, MIA told media that most international airports in India and the world over have gone in to silent mode. With the number of flights — domestic and international — on the rise at MIA, the constant stream of announcements meant that passengers were forced to keep their ears literally peeled out to discern information that was being broadcast through the public address system and understand what was relevant to them.

Keeping in mind the needs of ’Divyang’ passengers who could find themselves out of place in the absence of information related to their flights, Rao said airlines have been brought on board to take care of their needs. While creating a calm relaxed ambience for other passengers, airlines will set up separate counters and guide them right from the separate disembarking point set up for them outside the airport till such time they board the flight, he said.


The experience with initiative in other airports indicate that airlines could make limited announcements in case there is a change of boarding gates for passengers. Otherwise, airlines will notify passengers about changes in boarding time, baggage delivery belts and other information through SMS, he said, adding passengers should do well to keep themselves abreast of these developments on their cell phones rather than wait for the soon to be non-existent announcements.


No hand baggage stamping :   As per the approval received from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), MIA has remained free from stamping of hand baggage tags at pre-embarkation security check points from December 15. The trial started in November along with nine other airports, Rao said, adding based on the feedback obtained, BCAS has agreed to stop stamping at MIA.