Image © Mike Egerton/PA
A British holiday home company has petitioned Downing Street to prevent airlines such as Ryanair from allowing passengers to use their mobile phones during flights.
The budget airline has begun a trial introducing the technology on a number of its networks.
But the carrier may have been unprepared for the woeful reaction the news provoked. The company behind the No 10 petition, Direct Holiday Bookings, says it has been flooded with emails opposing the move.
Andrew Gibson, managing director of the company, said: "[We weren't prepared for] the large scale reaction we received from people vehemently opposing this decision.
“The feedback we’ve received states that the last thing people want when flying is to be subjected to other passengers shouting into their mobile phones with loud and annoying ring tones going off constantly. Our users also have safety concerns regarding potential interference with the aircraft’s controls.”
Recently a Qantas airline was forced to land after interference with its controls possibly emanating from a laptop with its wireless function turned on, a Bluetooth mouse or an electronic game.
Businesses such as the Swiss communications company OnAir and the British-based Aeromobile already have lucrative deals with Ryanair and Emirates respectively and other airlines including Qantas, BMI and Air France are set to follow suit.
The airlines involved are said to be taking a large cut of an estimated £2 a minute from the payments made to network providers by passengers.
But is there a good case for mid-air mobile phone use? Ryanair must recognise a compelling demand for such a service to be carrying out trials. What do you think of the proposal? Is it justified? Or will it lead to an epidemic of air rage? After all, you can't just get off the plane, and there is only so much room in the toilet.
Read more background on the topic and some heartfelt opinion.
