In-flight mobile phone use on the way

Ofcom has confirmed passengers will be allowed to use their mobiles on UK aircraft for flights in EU airspace after reaching agreement with other European countries.

The telecommunications regulator insisted it holds the safety of passengers as "paramount" and will not allow the installation of mobile systems on aircraft until they "have secured approval by [the European Aviation Safety Agency] and the [Civil Aviation Authority] in the UK".

"If such approval has been secured it will be a matter for individual airlines to judge whether there is consumer demand for these services," Ofcom said in its report Mobile Communications Onboard Aircraft.

Phone calls will still not be allowed during take-off or landing but mobiles will be able to be used when the aircraft has reached an altitude of 3,000 metres.

Mobiles will connect to an onboard base station and passengers' calls will be billed through their normal service provider.

Meanwhile Dubai-based airline Emirates has already launched an in-flight mobile service this week.

The airline is to invest around $27 million (£13.4 million) to install the AeroMobile system in its fleet.

This technology allows safe mobile use by passengers on aircraft by ensuring phones operate at minimum power.