Noise pollution cuts mean passengers can expect a 'calm ambiance' before flights

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Some European airports are now adopting a 'silent airport' philosophy
Interactive kiosks, apps now being used to communicate with travellers
Finland's Helsinki Airport now only makes announcements in gate areas

Published: 07:40 EST, 8 July 2015 | Updated: 07:49 EST, 8 July 2015

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Holidays don't always get off to a relaxing start - because there's normally a cacophony at the airport.

It's important to be reminded of boarding times and gate openings, but these relentlessly bounce around the airport, making for a tense atmosphere.

Thankfully, some international airports, particularly in Europe, are wisening up to passengers' disdain for noise pollution and adopting a 'silent airport' philosophy.

Many European airports are now adopting a 'silent airport' philosophy in an attempt to cut down noise pollution

No, this doesn't mean that your time spent shuttling between flights will be entirely wordless.

Information updates will simply take a different form, thanks to new technological advancements.

And among those leading the pack? Helsinki Airport in Finland and Munich Airport in Germany.

Angela Gittens, director general of Airports Council International tells CNN that there's a growing desire among airports and airlines to 'create a calm, relaxed ambiance' for passengers while they're waiting to board.

At Finland's Helsinki Airport, overhead announcements will now only be made in gate areas

In June, Finland's Helsinki Airport began to adopt the silent airport idea by making flight announcements solely in gate areas.

All dining, shopping and lounge spaces will be far quieter, as terminal announcements can only be made in exceptional emergency circumstances.

Instead, to get flight information, guests will be able to visit interactive kiosks or simply check their phone for a flight reminder via an app.

Instead, to communicate with travellers, there is a growing emphasis on using interactive kiosks (like this one in Mexico's Cancun International Airport) and apps

And in Munich, Germany, the revolution has already started with InfoGate Information Systems developing technology to spur the silent airport concept on.

At Munich Airport, InfoGate kiosk allow for video-based conversation with a live customer service representative in a traveller's language of choice.

All documents can also be exchanged there.

And to find their gate, travellers can simply look to interactive, touch-based signs that give directions and estimated walking times.

Saudi Arabia's new airport in Jeddah is expected to utilise the same interactive technologies.

Most international airports have apps that easily provide flight status updates, terminal maps and more

Additionally, most international airports today have apps that can easily provide flight status updates, terminal maps and other more specific features - just make sure your phone or tablet is charged before you head off.

And some European airports have already found a way to combat heavily-accented intercom confusion through their adoption of AviaVox, software with which high quality synthetic voices can be generated in a multitude of languages.

One thing's for sure: in the future, there will be no excuse for missing your plane.

AND NOW TO COMBAT THE NOISE CAUSED BY PLANES...

A strange new park near Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam may look like nothing more than a diamond-shaped maze, but it serves an entirely useful function.

Developed by Paul de Kort, it's design works to dampen sound from the nearby airport for local residents. The 80-acre site uses dips in landscape, wherein the furrows' ridges absorb the noise like a giant sponge.

And it's proved to be incredibly effective, cutting noise pollution down by half.