While they won't be able to offer the service on flights operating within the U.S., AeroMexico's new policy allowing cell phone usage in-flight brings the possibility of such service to the southern border of the country. Mexico's equivalent of the Department of Transportation lifted an eight-year ban on cell phone being used during flights after lengthy discussions with flight safety experts, engineers, pilots, flight attendants and passengers.
AeroMexico becomes the first Mexican carrier to allow calls during flights and others are expected to quickly follow. Flight attendants will have the in-flight authority to interrupt telephone calls in-flight as necessary.
The European Union also decided to allow airborne cell phone calls last year, but the air carriers operating on the Continent have yet to take advantage of the authority granted. Malaysian Airlines in-flight cell phone service began last year, and British Airways is considering a trial period for mobile phone users on their transatlantic flights.
There has been stiff opposition to the possibility of in-flight cell phone usage in the United States from various groups and no American carrier appears to be in a hurry to offer such service.
Comments
This is great as I travel all the time and could do so much more business if I can call from the plane. I use a Tracfone because I can make long distance and international calls to over 100 country's for the same price as a local call. I can also have my family in Mexico call me at their local price by getting a local number from Tracfone that goes to my cell, it's great.
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