Angkasa Pura I: Voice Announcements to Remain in Waiting Areas

Jakarta, Kartunet – Despite protests from the disability community, the implementation of the silent announcement system at Juanda International Airport will proceed on June 1st. However, PT Angkasa Pura I is striving to be accommodating by, among other things, ensuring that audio announcements remain available in waiting areas (31-05). Following advocacy conducted through @ProtesPublik to the President Director and General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I, they will still remove audio announcements at Juanda, Ngurah Rai, Makassar, and Balikpapan airports. Audio announcements regarding flight information will be removed from all terminal areas, except for departure waiting lounges. Angkasa Pura I stated that this decision was made due to passenger complaints about being disturbed by almost constant, non-stop audio announcements. Furthermore, @ProtesPublik conveyed to the @Kartunet Twitter account that, in lieu of the announcements, the airport will provide officers at each check-in counter who will remind all passengers, including those with special needs or disabilities. Additionally, airport management will increase the number of Flight Information Data Systems (announcement TVs) displaying running text in various strategic airport locations such as shops, cafes, and more. To address the most crucial matters, such as flight delays or changes in departure gates, the airport will continue to announce them through all loudspeakers in the terminal areas. This includes instances where a passenger has not yet boarded while the aircraft is about to take off; PT Angkasa Pura I guarantees that such passengers will be called via the usual audio announcement system until they are on board. Angkasa Pura I added that this decision, besides being based on passenger requests, also aims to emulate systems implemented at Singapore's Changi Airport and South Korea's Incheon Airport. According to information from LBH Surabaya colleagues, the policy to remove audio announcements at Juanda Airport has been implemented starting today, and the East Java Disability Advocacy Network (JADI-Jatim) will coordinate its response.(DPM)