Mobile phones take off with Air France flights

Air France has now officially started allowing passengers to use their mobile phones aboard its European flights and, as such, is seen as a trailblazer among commercial airlines for having embraced this technology. The European Commission has now also given its blessing and has announced new regulations aimed at permitting other carriers operating in the European Union to follow Air France’s lead, within certain parameters. The process of permitting the use of cellular phones on flights was a long and complicated process, which ultimately ended up lasting more than three years. Viviane Reding, an EC commissioner, told journalists that approximately 90 percent of European passengers stand to benefit from the ruling, as they will now be able to check their messages on an ever increasing number of flights. Businesspeople may be especially pleased, as most of them must be able to communicate with their colleagues, clients and supervisors on a regular basis and will now no longer have to be out of touch when they fly.

European passengers planning on using cell phones aboard flights should, however, keep in mind that they will still be banned during take-offs and landings, and no mobile communication technology will be permitted on long-haul trips, or on any flight in the US. The American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to consider petitions to permit the use of cell phones on flights.

Air France has been permitting passengers aboard select routes to use their cell phones to send or receive text messages since last December, but it may be several weeks or even months before passengers are actually permitted to use voice features. Ryanair is also following Air France’s lead. The Irish low-cost carrier will start allowing mobile phone use in early June, but will at first limit this to 20 aircraft.

www.airfrance.com