QATAR Airways is to ban mobile phone calls on its flights to avoid air rage.
The airline is allowing text calls, and is providing WiFi and high spead
broadband access for laptops.
But chief executive Akbar al Baker said research showed that 80 per cent of
customers do not want mobile calls to be allowed inflight.
"We will have the facility on board - it's just a question of flicking a
switch. But we have decided not to allow mobile calls on planes for a very
simple reason - comfort. We don't want people to start speaking loudly in
the cabin on a night flight.
"I am sure other airlines will introduce it but in time they will turn it
off," he told Times Online.
The airline will have broadband and WiFi across its fleet, he said, but the
airline is the first to say 'no' to live calls. Air France has already
introduced calls on some flights and Ryanair plans to introduce the facility
in June.
Qatar is also ready to start tests with Rolls Royce, GE, Shell and other
partners on a new Gas-to Liquids (GTL) and kerosene fuel mix which could be
used for existing jet engines.
The trial starts next month, with Qatar claiming the mix will result in lesser
carbon emissions and will allow aircraft to travel longer on the same amount
of fuel.
Qatar has the world's third largest gas reserves and the airline is to build a
GTL plant costing $US13bn in Qatar, close to a new airport being built in
Doha for 2011.
The existing airport, meanwhile, it to have a further US$500m spent on it to
cater for increased traffic - then it will be razed to the ground in three
years time.
Ryanair will do anything to earn a few quid. Their philosophy is to extract as much money as they can from the passengers, without any regard for their comfort.
Their excuse is, "if we fly you from A to B cheaply, what have you to complain about?"
Thank goodness I can afford not to fly Ryanair.
V Tan, London,
Gee...I was looking forward to being surrounded by 4-5 obnoxious ringtones in a small space......
Ali, Tehran,
Well done Qatar! Brace yourself for a wave of bookings!
Martin, Beckenham, England
Qatar's approach to running and supplementing their airports is a stark contrast to Britain's.
Austin, London,
Fully agreed. "Hello, I am on the plane" was something I was dreading. It is good to see some airlines applying common sense to these issues; unsurprising that BA is not a leader in this area.
John, Brighton,
Hooray! Finally an airline sees some sense! Let's hope the others follow suit.
John F, London,
Whilst I do not have need to fly Qatar at present, I do fly routes covered by Air France and Ryanair. Well, I would never fly Ryanair anyway, but any airline that allows in-flight mobile calls will be automatically discarded from my choice. It is a step too far.
Well done Qatar!
Paul M, Puerto del Rosario, Spain
Good call.
Daniel, Saigon, Vietnam