Ryanair, Qantas (finally) adding in-flight calling!

We've got good news for frequent fliers in Europe and Australia: Qantas and Ryanair (this author's personal fav airline for obvious reason) have announced their respective additions of picocells for in-flight calling, texting, and presumably (eventually) also data. Qantas Boeing 767s and Ryanair 737s will begin rolling out AirBus subsidiary OnAir's cellular satellite uplinked connections to their customers as early as June or July 2007 in Ryanair's case, with full rollout on that fleet expected in 2008. We don't know how much further behind launch Qantas is, but obviously they've stated their intentions to enter the in-flight cell arena, so it's only a matter of time. Too bad that Connexion was scrapped just when things are looking up for future-thinking fliers, but maybe, just maybe we finally can all throw out the ages-old argument of cellphones being dangerous for use in flight.

P.S. -Uh, please don't whip out your phones in flight. You do realize that it's still illegal in the US right? Use your phone on a plane that's not parked or taxiing and the FAA and TSA might disembowel you on the spot for the infraction. Kthxbye.

Read - Qantas
Read - Ryanair

[Count Chocula @ Aug 30th 2006 5:20PM]

WHO?

[Marky @ Aug 30th 2006 5:38PM]

Nooooooooo!!!!!!

Internet yes, mobile telephones..no!!!! no!!! no!!!

Sitting on a plane is one of the only places I have away from the vacuous conversations of others. Can you imagine the person next to you "yes...what...I can't hear you...I'm on a plane...yes a plane....did she?.....Oh I thought so....I said that didn't I....

Keep them off the planes!! The phones as well! :-)

[Seth @ Aug 30th 2006 5:49PM]

I agree with Marky. It's bad enough that half the people on the plane feel the need to call their buddies right when they land. I can't imaging having to sit next to a frequent-talker all flight long. And it's not like the airline will be any help in regulating how frequently/loudly people talk (like movie theaters try to do), since they'll be making money with every call.

We can all pray that the call charges will be oppressively high and discourage all but the neediest chatterboxes.

[3rdsun @ Aug 30th 2006 5:55PM]

They named an airline after me yeaaahhhhh!!! Ryanair head

[Wii Master @ Aug 30th 2006 5:55PM]

Kinda like "Snake on a Plane" ?

[CharlieX @ Aug 30th 2006 5:58PM]

Yes, hopefully the charges are high.... i don't mind people talking on their phones on the plane per se....but you KNOW a majority of them will be so loud that you can hear them 3 rows back.

[Fearghas @ Aug 30th 2006 6:02PM]

I take it Ryan has never been on the eponymous airline. It is exceedingly cheap, but then again so is walking.

I for one welcome our mobile phone-using fellow passengers

[CJ @ Aug 30th 2006 6:20PM]

Guys, please don't start the "we shouldn't have cells in the air" argument. Look, the market will determine whether or not it will be viable to have cellular service in the air or not. Personally, I'd be MUCH haappier with WiFi in the air (say, $7.99 for the whole flight, perhaps) but we will have what we will.

[Mr. B @ Aug 30th 2006 6:30PM]

...as if crying babies aren't annoying enough. I'd much rather read about cell jamming devices aboard aircraft than this.

[TrafficGeek @ Aug 30th 2006 7:04PM]

"Use your phone on a plane that's not parked or taxiing and the FAA and TSA might disembowel you on the spot for the infraction" ....say, that's a great way to get some elbow room on my next flight...

So what's more dangerous on a plane? a cell phone jammer or a cell phone?

Really, this is just what I want, doing time sitting next to another pompous j*rk yaking away on their cell phone...

[Damien @ Sep 3rd 2006 7:06PM]

How can this be considered good news? One of the few joys of travelling by plane is that you get away from people talking way too loud on their phone.

[bp @ Aug 30th 2006 7:32PM]

From the Qantas article:
"Passengers wanting to make or receive a call will need a global roaming account, meaning they'll have to pay international call charges. The aircraft effectively operates as a single country in the sky ... "

Global roaming is hugely expensive (for Australians anyway), that will hopefully deter people, unless work's picking up the tab of course...

[Cam @ Aug 30th 2006 8:30PM]

RyanAir happens to be probably one of the cheapest carriers in Europe (Their seats are plastic). They try to make a profit on selling in-flight snacks, beverages, and entertainment. But after you consider the demographic that Ryanair is marketing to, (people who prefer to save money) I'd expect the fliers who use this new service will be text messaging vs. using voice. Besides, I've found that most people in the EU text instead of voice anyways.

[Deluxe @ Aug 30th 2006 8:57PM]

Psh, last time I send in a tip. Thanks Engadget *angry face*.

[Engineer @ Aug 31st 2006 4:40AM]

They could have wifi, cell and gold plated loo seats but I still wouldn't fly with Ryanair.

I could put up with the dirty seats, tired hostessess, baggage charge, remote airports and hidden costs making it more expensive than BA, but their treatment of disabled people is truly diabolical.

Seriously, there is a wheelchair charge ('Wchr levy') itemised on your bill, just to make it clear that it's those selfish cripples pushing up the price of YOUR ticket.

Before flying Ryanair, you have to ask yourself: Are you that desperate?

[dave @ Aug 31st 2006 5:38AM]

I'm afraid that the airlines considering this have no idea just how angry it's going to make most of their customers to be subjected to someone sitting next to them yelling on a phone for hours.
Talk about your air rage.

[Rob DaGoth @ Aug 31st 2006 8:27AM]

Cellphone use might be safe for the aircraft (probably - let's see when 30 users are all broadcasting away) but the guy who jabbers away on the flight next to me is putting his persinal safety at risk. His next call from the phone may be to the emergency room, to remove it from inside his person !

[Nick Hawkins @ Aug 31st 2006 12:26PM]

American Airlines allows for phone usage from pullback to taxiing. On landing I can fire up my phone as we taxi to the gate. In the air is another story. I'm just wanting mobile data in the air.

[John @ Sep 1st 2006 2:08PM]

Hi

That's encouraging news, indeed. The first thing I do on entering an aircraft is switch off my cell phone and I feel so, so, deprived, yes, deprived. When will the world learn that cell phones do not, and, come to think of it, cannot interfere with the aircraft's radio signals as they are in different frequencies after all. Really stupid of airline companies not to realize this simple truth.

:)

John

[number40one @ Nov 8th 2006 5:29PM]

I'm sorry to all you nay-sayers, but this is good news. With this, it's just a heartbeat away 'til we get data up there as well.

...And I'm having a hard time remembering when the last time was that I didn't have to strain to hear the flight attendant ask me if I wanted chicken or pasta. Airplanes are loud beasts, with so much white noise I can barely maintain a medium-volumed conversation with my neighbor. Yeah, there'll be shouters, but this isn't as bad as y'all are making it out to be.

[lucy-kay @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:57AM]

escuxe me but i booked a flight on 26 of march 2007 for th4 4th of april 2007 and i still havent recieved the email

[lucy-kay @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:06AM]

On the 21st March 2007 I booked three flights for a Mrs Joan Starr, Josephine Elizabeth Starr and Lucy Kay Starr. The flights are for the 4th of April 2007 from Alicante Airport to Stanstead Airport. I have not received the confirmation by e mail. I could not print off confirmation as my computer went down just afterwards. The money has been deducted from my bank. Could you please e mail me with confirmation as soon as possible.