British Airways is to introduce mobile phone technology on its business-class only flights between London City and JFK.
It is to be introduced in the autumn with passengers travelling on the route able to send and receive text messages during the flight, it will also allow them access to the internet. If the text messaging service proves successful they may consider the introduction of voice calls. Emirates were the first airline to offer mobile technology in March 2008 on a flight between Dubai and Casablanca, before extending the technology to the rest of its fleet. Budget airline Ryaniar and BMI are also testing the technology.