RYANAIR’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has denied allegations that allowing the use of mobile phones on Ryanair flights will lead to more air rage.
The airline announced this week that passengers will be able to use mobiles to make and receive calls and texts from next summer. Aircraft at Stansted will be the first to have the new technology from July, with the rest of the fleet enabled by early 2008.
Passengers will be billed at international roaming rates but O’Leary declined to say how much the system will cost, nor how much Ryanair will make on each call.
The telecoms regulator Ofcom recently gave warning about the possibility of increased levels of agitation from passengers if mobiles are allowed on board, but O’Leary described such allegations as complete nonsense.
He also said that Ryanair had no intention of introducing quiet zones, like those on trains, where mobile phones are banned. “If you’ve ever been on a Ryanair flight, you’ll know the cockpit is the only quiet zone.”
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But studies from rail companies have shown that customers welcome mobile-free zones. “We carried out surveys to assess our clients’ needs and the feedback was that people definitely don’t like mobiles,” said a spokesman for Virgin Trains. “Regular travellers often specifically request the quiet coach when they’re booking.”
Other European airlines, including Air France, TAP Portugal and bmi, are launching their own in-flight mobile phone schemes next year, but each will initially fit only one aircraft on a trial basis.
Passengers flying from Stansted gave the news a mixed reception. “Being able to look at messages on a BlackBerry will be useful but I’m not thrilled at the thought of sitting next to some bloke rabbiting on about his weekend,” said Hamish Gowen, an investment manager from Hertfordshire.
Holiday Which? magazine has also given the scheme the thumbs down. “As far as we are concerned, being locked in a metal tube with fellow passengers on mobile phones sounds like a complete nightmare and can only add to the frustration and stress of air travel,” a spokesman said.