Wi-Fi and mobile phones on planes may cause air rage

Although being able to access e-mails and the internet in general from one’s laptop while on a plane, or take a phone call and text friends may be precisely what many passengers find lacking in today’s in-flight experience, some are worrying that permitting people to use their electronic gadgets on long-haul flights risks increasing the possibility of air rage, thus also compromising the security of everyone on board. Most industry analysts predict that within the next five years, wireless internet access and the use of mobile phones will become standard aboard most airplanes. Yet some are also worrying about what this will mean for those who have to listen to their seatmate chatting away for hours on end on their mobile, during long-haul flights. This is perhaps precisely why carriers in the

US appear to have opted for a wait-and-see approach before adopting this technology aboard most planes. Many European carriers are going ahead with it, however, and their success will determine if US airlines follow suit. Nevertheless, most do expect this to occur by the end of 2008, as American carriers do not want to risk falling behind in the competitive transatlantic market.

Air rage, which is a catch-all term for disruptive and sometimes violent passenger behaviour on an airplane, can be caused by a number of factors, such as oxygen quality in a cabin, a lack of sleep, alcohol consumption and a sense of anxiety while flying. Cramped seats and loud passengers nearby can exacerbate this problem, leading to rowdy and often threatening behaviour.