One step closer to in-flight phone use

There is perhaps no issue that has polarized aircraft passengers as much as whether the use of mobile phones on flights should be allowed. Of course being able to communicate when it’s needed is convenient, but with the cramped quarters in regular-person class, the idea of getting more detailed information about your neighbour’s life can be unappealing for some.

There is still no clear consensus as to whether mobile communication is safe or not, but the European Aviation Safety Agency seems to think it can be done. Air France has already begun testing the concept on some of its short-haul flights operated by Airbus A318s, and their lead has set the bar for other airlines like Ryanair, bmi, Qantas and Emirates to begin testing of their own.

With the new open-skies agreement between the United States in Europe, airlines that allow mobiles to be used on board could gain a competitive advantage among passengers that are so reliant on their little microwaves that they can’t bear to be separated from them for a few hours. Hopefully passengers who don’t want to listen to phones ringing all around them will opt for the airlines that don’t allow phones in equal or greater numbers.