International carrier British Airways is set to become the first European airline to let passengers switch on their smartphones and other devices shortly after landing.
From the start of next month, customers will be invited to power up their electronic gadgets as soon as the plane has touched down, rather than having to wait until it has stopped entirely – which could be good news for those people who need to check their emails on a regular basis.
Commenting on the decision, Ian Pringle – flight training manager for British Airways: “Customers will no longer have the frustration of having to wait until their plane has arrived at the terminal building before being able to use their mobile phones and other handheld electronic devices.
“Now they’ll have that extra time to phone ahead for that important business meeting, check their emails, or make sure someone is there to meet them at the airport.”
The carrier has acknowledged the needs of many of its customers who want to ensure they are kept in the know with goings on at home by logging into their tech devices.
Others – who may have protected their device with a personalised phone case – could simply wish to communicate with their friends via social media.
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However, it could be quite some time until passengers are able to switch their mobiles on during flights, as regulations are still in place that forbid this.
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British Airways officials said the new rules will apply to flights landing anywhere in the world and come in response to feedback from customers. Analysts have suggested pressure on aviation authorities across the globe to relax rules has been driven by major revenue opportunities for airlines.
It comes after limited use of Wi-Fi was permitted for some premium customers, but this is usually charged at higher rates.
Surfing the web while enduring a long haul flight across the globe is something that many travellers would love, as it means they can relieve the boredom associated with lengthy flights.
