Dubai-based Emirates has joined a whole host of airlines with onboard phone ideas
Emirates, who already offers an inflight mobile phone facility in the premium class cabins on some routes, is to install a new system by AeroMobile across its entire fleet and on all routes. Emirates said it will fully utilise the capabilities of the system to ensure that passengers who wish to communicate can do so conveniently and discreetly while preserving the privacy of fellow travellers. The Dubai-based carrier expects to launch the service on board one of its Boeing 777s as early as January 2007, once all necessary approvals are granted.
Emirates Group chairman and chief executive HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said: "As the world leader in innovation for our customers, we are delighted to offer the choice of mobile phone use to passengers who would like to make contact with friends, family or colleagues while flying with us.
"The option of mobile phone use will be available under guidelines that recognise and respect the privacy of all our customers."
"Our customers are already making more than 6,000 calls a month from our in-seat phones, so we will be making life easier for those for whom staying in touch using their mobile phone has become an indispensable part of their everyday lives. Our research tells us our customers would appreciate the option of staying in touch in this way."
Clearly Emirates is concerned that the phones will not be popular with non-users. They can only be used at cruise altitude and the airline says cabin crew will have full control over the system, including the ability to prevent voice calls at certain times such as during night flights. The number of calls that may be made at any one time is also limited to a maximum of five or six, the same number as for the current in-seat phones used regularly by Emirates' passengers.