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From Times Online

September 24, 2008

Ryanair to offer in-flight mobile calls within days

Traveling Businesswoman Using Cell Phone

Ginny McGrath

Ryanair passengers will be using mobile phones in-flight within two weeks.

The low cost airline is fitting 14 of its 166 aircraft with miniature mobile phone masts to enable passengers to make and receive calls and texts, and emails via Blackberries and similar devices.

The calls will be charged according to the in-flight roaming charge imposed by the phone user’s network, and will cost up to £2 per minute.

At present only passengers signed up to the O2 and 3 networks will be able to use the service, but more are expected to sign up shortly.

O2's inflight calling charge will vary by destination between £1.65 and £1.99 for making or receiving a call and 40 pence per text.

The in-flight call charge is not subject to the European Commission’s proposed cap on foreign roaming charges.

As well as making money for the mobile phone networks, the service will offer Ryanair another revenue stream – the airline will take a cut of the charges made for every call, text and email.

After six months, Ryanair will roll out the service across its entire fleet if it is deemed a success.

Ryanair passengers will be able to send unlimited texts and emails during their flight, but only six passengers at any one time will be able to make a call. If a passenger tries to make a call when six other phones are already in use, they will receive a “network busy” message.

Ryanair has teamed up with OnAir to develop the inflight phone service. The company is also working with Air France, Bmi and TAP Portugal plus a number of carriers in the Middle East and Asia.

The subject of mobile phone use in flight has been delayed by controversy over safety concerns, but OnAir says Ryanair has received the necessary safety certificates.

According to OnAir, Ryanair's in-flight phone service has been given the green light by the European Aviation Safety Authority. A spokesman told Times Online that the proximity of the miniature phone mast, or picocell, to passengers’ mobile phones means that handsets will emit only a low signal, so potential for interference with the aircraft’s avionics are kept to a minimum.

The other controversy copncerning in-flight phone use is passenger reaction to the service. In a recent poll, Times Online readers voted 87 per cent against the introduction of mobile phone calls on planes.

What's the problem? It's just another reason NOT to fly Ryanair!

Ferg, Farnham, UK

Airlines used to make the safety case that mobile phone transmissions could affect aircraft systems, an argument I found unconvincing (if aircraft electronics are that sensitive to interference then I don't want to fly!).

Now suddenly there's money to be made and it's all OK.

Please explain?

Chris K, Cheltenham, UK

Yet another reason not to fly RottenAir.

David, Hemel Hempstead, ENGLAND

I would have no objection to people using texts and blackberries (with all sounds off) - but of course many people will not do that.
I use a mobile and wireless broadband, but on a flight - even if I may use the time for reading or other work, I do not need to be in contact with others.

colin Brady, Newton Abbot, UK

what? ghastly! i am going back under my duvet!. when i emerge, i hope to have deleted ryanair from my psyche.

eugene, london, uk

I applaud Ryanair for this decision...now I can have a medical team standing by at my destination to treat my crushed knees enabling me to hobble to the terminal to collect my damaged luggage.

Graham, Towcester,

Do so hope you get offered ear-plugs when you get on the plane - I suppose you could always use some of the "food" on offer to stuff in your ears - or your fellow passengers mouths to shut them up. Look out for "plane rage"! I'm flying with them soon - HELP!

Katy, York,

What a load of pompous tosh from some of you. It's called progress, and blinkered people have always tried to stop it. You are already able to use a mobile on a plane before take-off and after landing. Within a few years use of mobiles during flights on all airlines will be commonplace. Get over it.

Ed, London, U.K.

My three warnings just became two. I don't mind the judge sending me off on assault, as long as you don't mind plastic surgery :p
ps the next step will be advertisements beamed into your retina, in exchange for a free johnson bus fare

Tromba, London, UK

,,,no,no,no,no,no,no...what a terrible idea. is there no space left in the world where people aren't forced to listen to other peoples' hideous conversations on their phone. and what of terrorism? i don't see anything about the possible misuse of phones on planes in terms of terrorism...

James, London, UK

I nightmare scenario becomes true. I always hated Ryanair. Trust them to allow the proletariat to waste even more money and terrorize their neighbours...."HI"....."I am on the plane"......"Where?"...."Yes"....."I will be home......"blah blah blah yada yada yada blah, and one is cought .....uncouth

Daniel, London,

Anyone who can afford £2.00 per minute won't be flying on Ryanair!

Chuck T, Champery, Switzerland

I just hope my mobile phone jammer works on a plane.

Can't see it making fortune as Ryanair passengers are too poor to pay the charges, Not many will be business travellers clocking it up on exes.

And the costs you quote are an underestimate from what I've heard.

Wish u'd allow more space here.

David Short, London, UK

Let's hope they have a "no talking" zone... Cannot think of anything worse than sitting next to some blabbermouth saying "I'm on the plane". A plane used to be the only time one could get away from everything and have a few hours of peace and quiet. Not any more it seems. I'll be going Easyjet.

Louise, Corfu, Greece

Took my first and last flight with ryanair this week.
You wan't to really know how it feels for cattle,
then give them a go.

Mike, Berlin,

Imagine sitting in a centre seat with young women on your left and right shouting trivia into their mobile phones for the entire journey.

Harry Collier, Malmesbury,

Even in the airplane we still must stick to some kind of a technology. God..how said are we?..

Alex, London,

So that would be another reason not to use Ryanair!!

David, Dubai, UAE

At last!!

Contrary to the survey that suggests 87% of people do not want it, I would wager that within 12 months of installation 87% of travellers will have actually used it!
Telephones are already available in Club and Business, why shouldn't everyone have that privilege?

Andy D, Yarm, Cleveland

I always pack earplugs for flights.

You never know when you might be stuck near a screaming baby on a seemingly endless flight to Africa or the Far East.

All the more reason now to remember them.

Don't be fooled by the ones they hand out in the little toiletry bag.

They don't work.

David Short, London, UK

Planes are not very quiet inside, I wonder if it will make any difference to other passengers.

Ian G, Cambridge, England UK

Richard in Plymouth -

Terrorists are not scared off by the lack of a mobile phone mast!

Kabeer, Portstewart,

No, this is inacceptable! People yaking on their phones in this little tiny tube! I see air rage, people hitting each other with cell phones!

Charles, London,

Thats all travellers need, to overhear conversations in a confined space.....isnt there enough racket in the cabin as it is ?

Jac, Balnarring, Australia

No way is this safe. So now the terrorist puts a bomb in the hold and initiates it through his mobile phone. Now that's smart! Guess I will not travel Ryanair.

Richard, Plymouth,

Planes were one of the only places where you could get peace from people talking on mobile phones. Not any more!

wallacebut, Paisley,