First WiFi enabled flight lands at Heathrow

Heathrow Airport saw the landing last week of the first ever commercial flight to the UK that featured in-flight mobile phone service.

Emirates Airlines passengers travelling from Dubai to London on 7 August were the first to make use of the carrier’s new onboard AeroMobile system, and place more than 30 phone calls.

Although approval for mobile use is anticipated in the near future, it is still prohibited in UK airspace. The system on Emirates is currently available on only 10 per cent of the airlines’ flights, and when the altitude of the aircraft is above 23,000 feet.

Regulations for using the system in-flight include having passengers switch phones to silent at all time during the flight and an understanding that flight crew have the ability to switch the system to text-only or switch if off completely as they feel necessary.

Early reports indicate that the scheme seems to be successful, and a spokesman for Emirates, Patrick Brannelly, has said that there have been no complaints from passengers so far.

He noted: “The cabin noise level on airliners is such that you cannot hear people making phone calls and the call quality has been so good there has been no need to shout.”

Several other airlines, including Air France, Qantas and Turkish Airlines, have tested the AeroMobile technology, which is based on a signal week enough to not interfere with aircraft communications.

www.emirates.com