Mobile phones during flights

Yesterday Ryanair announced its intention to provide in flight mobile telephone access for all its passengers. The low-fare airline has signed a deal with OnAir, an onboard passenger communications provider, wherby Ryanair’s entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft will be fitted with OnAir’s onboard mobile communications solution over the next two years. Ryanair will then become the first European airline to offer Europe-wide mobile telephony services during flights across its entire fleet of aircraft to all passengers via their own mobile phones and smartphones.

According to the announcement yesterday, from mid 2007 (subject to relevant regulatory approval) onwards Ryanair’s passengers will be able to call, text and e-mail using their mobile phones, BlackBerrys™ and Treos™. The mobile technology will be fitted in 50 Ryanair aircraft during 2007 and in the rest of the fleet during 2008 so that eventually Mobile OnAir will be available on all Ryanair flights. The cost of calls, sms messages and emails will mirror international roaming rates.

To celebrate this new service, Ryanair is offering one million seats from the UK to Europe for just £9.99 (excluding taxes and charges), including its routes from the UK to Spain. Passengers can take advantage of this special promotion by purchasing their tickets online as from today and for as long as availability allows.

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