Airlines Get European Go Ahead For In-flight Mobile Calls

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- The European Aviation Safety Authority has given clearance for the use of GSM equipment in airlines, meaning airline passengers in Europe will be able to use mobile phones and Blackberry devices during flights for the first time.

Air France will be the first airline to trial the technology in the next few months on a shorthaul Airbus A318 aircraft. Portugal's TAP and the UK's bmi will also test on-board mobile phone and data usage, before deciding on whether it will roll out the technology across its fleet.

Ryanair is also planning a full fleet deployment later this year and will install the OnAir technology on its Boeing 737 aircraft.

OnAir is a joint venture between Airbus and industry information technology body SITA. U.K. satellite communications company Inmarsat is also involved in the project.

Company Web site: http://www.onair.aero

-By Daniel Thomas, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9264; dan.thomas@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 19th June 2007