The European Commision on Monday, April 7, cleared the way for airlines to introduce technology that would allow passengers to use their mobile phones in mid-air, but leading carriers in Germany said they would not be offering the service. The aim of the EU is to create a pan-European framework for mobile communications on aircraft, so passengers can make and receive calls, text messages and use e-mail with their own cell phones.

Calls will still be banned during take-off and landing and allowed only once a plane reached 3,000 meters in altitude.

Two of Germany’s biggest airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, said Monday they weren’t in favor of the new in-flight service. Jan Baerwalde, spokesman for Lufthansa, said a poll had revealed that passengers rejected the facility and that the airline had no plans to introduce mobile capability. “People don’t want to be disturbed” he told.

The European Commission backing means planes registered in one EU country would be able to offer mobile communications services to passengers when flying over other EU countries without having to apply for additional national licences. The EU’s 27 member states have six months to comply with the new rules.

[VIA and VIA]

Big bucks under the table. This is going to be the next big income source for the airliners. I cannot think of any other reason.
Mobile phones are more dangerous than smoking, but the smoking is banned. I can clearly understard the need of pathetic smoking protection, but also I can understand the need for mobile phone pathetic usage protection. So this is not a health protection issue.
When I travel with an aircraft I prefer to take a snap. I cannot imagine an airplane’s cabin full of ringing phones and noisy phone speakers. This is like hell. So, this is not a trip pleasure issue.
And what about security? Suddenly the inflight mobile phone usage is 100% risk free for the airplane’s instruments? In the digital era the airplanes are full of radio transmition equipment, because they are still usable and because even in a fully digital equiped airplane they work as backup instruments. These instruments can seriously affected by the mobile phone usage. Not to mention the interference in pilot’s headsets. So, it not a flight security issue.
What’s the reason except the big bucks?