“It’s all the more controversial because airlines in Europe, Asia and the Middle East allow calls and have even taken it a step further by introducing pay-by-minute cellphone service using satellites.

Americans are split about in-flight mobile phones, a survey by the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics found. About 45% said cellphones should be banned on aircraft. About 40% said they should definitely or probably be allowed if they don’t pose a safety threat, according to the survey, which queried about 1,000 households.”

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What about you, do you think airlines should let passengers make calls via Wi-Fi? Let us know.

Ryanair Offers In-Flight Mobile Phones

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary unveiled the discount airline’s latest money-making plan: inflight mobile service. Although several other airlines such as Air-France KLM and BMI British Midland have run in-flight cell phone service trials, Ryanair is the first European airline to actually begin kitting out 20 of its 170-strong fleet.

The service is provided by OnAir, a company 67% owned by aviation company Sita and 30% by Airbus. O’Leary aims to offer it aboard the entire fleet within the next 18 months.

Calls aren’t cheap, though, costing between $2.15 (€ 1,70) and $4.28 (€ 3,40) a minute, with text messages costing 60 cents (€ 0,50) and e-mails up to $2.85 (€ 2,30).

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