EU to allow in-flight mobile calls

The European Commission yesterday (7 April) announced new measures that will allow mobile phones to be used on board aeroplanes. But the Association of European Airliners warned that passengers could end up being misled as very few planes are currently equipped with the technology.

“We are seriously worried that the Commission’s announcement might mislead passengers into believing that they can use their mobile phone on board any flight as from tomorrow,” said AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus. The new rules aim to harmonise the technical and licensing requirements for the use of mobile phones on board aircraft via technology which links passengers’ phones to an onboard cellular network connected to the ground via satellite. 

The Commission said the system would not affect the safety of aircraft equipment. 

Schulte-Strathaus said AEA member airlines are already offering this service, long called for by the business passenger community. However, he warned that unless passengers are specifically told that they can use their mobile phone onboard a particular flight, they should switch it off as otherwise it could “interfere with navigation systems”. 

Announcing the measures on 7 April, EU Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding warned airlines not to introduce prohibitive charges for the new service. “If consumers receive shock phone bills, the service will not take-off,” she said in a statement. 

The Commission’s move to harmonise technical requirements for the safe deployment of in-flight mobile communication services will enable the national licences granted to individual airlines by the member state in which they are registered to be recognised throughout the EU. For example, an aircraft registered in France or Spain will be able to offer mobile communication services to passengers when flying over Germany or Hungary without any additional licensing procedures. 

As a result, the vast majority of airline passengers in Europe will be able to conduct mobile phone communications during their flights. 

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