British Airways will become the first airline in Europe to allow its
customers to use their handheld electronic devices during taxiing, take off
and landing.
Following acceptance by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the move means
from tomorrow (December 19), British Airways customers will be able to use
their tablet devices, phones and eReaders in ‘flight safe’ mode from the
moment they board their flight to the second they leave it.
British Airways has demonstrated to the CAA, that the changes will comply
with all existing safety rules and regulations.
Captain Ian Pringle, British Airways’ flight training manager, said: “We
know that our customers want to use their handheld electronic devices more,
so this will be very welcome news for them.
“The easing of restrictions will provide an average of 30 minutes
additional personal screen time. With around 300 people on a long-haul
flight that will mean a combined total of approximately 150 hours extra
viewing, reading or working!
“We are incredibly pleased to be the first airline in Europe to introduce
these changes which will be of great benefit to our customers on any
British Airways flight anywhere in the world.”
Earlier this year, British Airways was the first European airline to allow
their customers to use mobile phones and other handheld electronic devices
to call, text and send emails, after their aircraft has landed and taxied
off the runway.
It was also the first UK airline to allow customers on long-haul services
to watch in-flight entertainment from gate to gate.
Further underlining its commitment to innovation, British Airways has
connectivity on its double daily London City to New York service, which
enables customers to send and receive texts and data.