Ryanair becomes first airline to offer mobile phone service on regular routes

by Joe Thomas, marketingmagazine.co.uk 20-Feb-09, 09:30

Ryanair has begun allowing passengers to use their mobiles during flights.

The service, which will roll out across its fleet, will enable passengers to make and receive calls and text messages on their own phones, and send and receive emails just as they would on the ground.

The service has been initially been launched on more than 20 aircraft, mainly operating out of Ryanair's Dublin base.

Several other European airlines, including Air France-KLM and BMI British Midland, have conducted trials on single aircraft, but the Ryanair has become the first to start equipping its entire fleet.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said the aim is to equip the whole fleet within 18 months.

Calls will cost passengers between £1.50 and £3 a minute, simple emails from £1 to £2 and SMS messages about 40p. There will be no charge to receive text messages.