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Emirates
has installed technology on a Boeing 77-300 which allows passengers to make calls and send SMS text messages via their mobile phones during
flights.
The Boeing 777-300 carrying the new system is operating on several Emirates routes, including services to Europe and
Australia.
Emirates first installed the technology, which was created by inflight mobile phone technology developer AeroMobile, on one of its
Airbus
A340-300 aircraft in March.
Since then, the airline has installed the technology on 10 aircraft, including A340-300, A340-500, A330-200 and Boeing 777 planes. Emirates plans
to introduce the inflight mobile phone systems to other aircraft, with the airline’s maintenance division taking less than two days to complete the
work.
Emirates
says that most inflight calls made by passengers usually occur during daytime flights, with minimal usage on night services. The average length
of calls is around 2.5 minutes, while the text messaging capability is also proving
popular among passengers.
Emirates has guidelines for the appropriate use of phones on board, including requesting passengers to have their phones switched to “silent”
mode during flights. The airline’s cabin crew are also able to control and monitor use of the
system
throughout flights.
AeroMobile Chief Executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg
said, “The installation of our system on board Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft is another first for
AeroMobile, and clearly demonstrates our ability to offer our technology to airlines using either Boeing or Airbus aircraft. The number of Boeing
777s operated by Emirates and other AeroMobile customers means that this introduction is a key step in allowing passengers to keep in touch
when they fly.”
“There has been overwhelmingly positive feedback since the service launched in March, with between 40 to 60% of passengers switching
on their phones on flights where the service is available,” he added.
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Passengers Say No to Inflight Mobile Phone Use
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